Steven Gerrard reflected on Liverpool's European heartbreak and declared: 'Now let's go and win the Europa League.'
A fourth minute strike from David Ngog gave the Reds a 1-0 victory over Debrecen in Budapest - but it wasn't enough to save their Champions League status as Fiorentina beat Lyon in Italy.
While Gerrard accepts it is a blow to have bowed out of the tournament at the group stage, the captain is confident the season can still end in success for Rafael Benitez's side.
"The disappointing thing was having to rely on other teams going into tonight," said Gerrard.
"We've played fantastically well tonight and deserved the three points, so it's disappointing that we won't progress in the Champions League.
"You get what you deserve in this competition and the two late goals we conceded against Lyon have been crucial. But it's gone now - it's in the past and we've got to move on.
"We're in the Europa League and we'll go and try to win it.
"Tonight's performance was encouraging and we can build on that. We've got a lot of players coming back from injury so hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here."
The results mean Liverpool will drop down into the Europa League - a competition the Reds last won on a memorable night in Dortmund in 2001.
Asked if the players would find it difficult to pick themselves up to play in the tournament, Gerrard replied: "Of course because the main prize has gone.
"When you start the season, you want to stay in the Champions League as long as possible, so to be playing in the Europa League is disappointing.
"But we have to accept that, move on and go and try and win it.
"The only consolation from losing out on the Champions League is to go and win the one that comes second."
Gerrard admits Liverpool's primary short-term focus will be attempting to secure a top four finish this campaign and a return to the Champions League in 2010-11.
"It's important we finish in the top four, that goes without saying," he added.
"For financial reasons, but also from a personal point of view it is important for players to play in the Champions League because it's the best level.
"It's important we go to Everton on Sunday, try to get the three points and get ourselves back in the top four as soon as possible.
"Now that we've got the majority of the squad back fit, I'm very confident we can turn things around and go on a long run of winning games.
"Hopefully Torres is not too far away and then we'll have everyone back fit and go from there."
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166587091124-2221.htmRafa Benitez believes Liverpool can still enjoy a successful season in 2009-10 - but warned his players not to let their Champions League exit affect performances over the coming weeks.
The Reds did all they could by beating Debrecen 1-0 thanks to a David Ngog strike - but Fiorentina's victory over Lyon by the same scoreline meant we crashed out at the group stage for the first time under Benitez.
The boss admitted he was disappointed for the fans but urged everyone to stay positive ahead of a crucial Merseyside derby at the weekend.
Everton are one of the sides Liverpool could meet in the Europa League - and memories of a glorious campaign in 2001 means Steven Gerrard and co will be going all out to reach the final in Hamburg.
Benitez said: "You have to be disappointed. We did our job here but we cannot change things. If you analyse the games, two late goals against Lyon were a massive difference.
"You have the first half against Fiorentina and the two late goals but that's football and sometimes you can't control things. We had chances in all of the games - we could have won all of them.
"We have been so good in the last few years that people think it's easy to progress. You can see every year we've qualified and everyone expects us to be in the final.
"But the fans realise the team worked so hard and you can't expect more. We made two mistakes late against Lyon but the fans have some experience in Europe.
"We have to be positive, we have a massive game on Sunday and we have to make sure we are ready.
"I like to win every game and be as high as possible in all the competitions but I think more about the players, the staff and the fans and I'm disappointed for everyone.
"To win is always the target but when you are doing as well as you can you just have to think about the next target. We cannot win the Champions League, we know that. A lot of teams don't play in the Champions League. So we have to think about Everton and then the Europa League.
"The players know it's been a bad run of games but to win here and to show we can create a lot of chances is positive."
Asked if he and his team were keeping abreast of events in Italy during the Debrecen game, Benitez added: "At half-time we knew (it was 1-0) and we were waiting afterwards for news but the players didn't know."
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