Rodgers began the match playing the 3-5-2 system that had brought his side some success in recent weeks, but switched to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation for the second half.

The change in style came at the same time that Rodgers introduced Philippe Coutinho into the match, with the Brazilian playmaker making his return from a seven-week layoff.

"We've played well in this system - it has worked well for us," Rodgers told the club's official website. "And I was just reluctant to change that. We had identified the areas that could possibly hurt us when you play that system.

"Every system has a vulnerability to it; with 3-5-2, it is on the sides. I felt that they were getting a little bit too much joy, they have got good movement in their team and the players isolate well, numerically, on the sides.

"We went in 1-0 down so I felt that if we brought on Coutinho, played narrower with Jordan [Henderson] narrow to give us four in a central area, it allows us to retain the front two - who obviously can score goals."

Rodgers added that he was pleased with his players' determination to win the match even after going 2-0 down.

"I've got to give praise to the players, they kept going," he said. "We were 2-0 down with over half an hour to play. Arsenal had better control of the game; they have got good technicians so they can control the game.

"But we were always in the game because we created chances. The only disappointment was that, in good positions, we failed to capitalise on that. Overall, they probably deserved it.

"We're disappointed with the goals that we conceded, but we'll reflect on it and look to get three points now against Fulham."

The defeat leaves Liverpool third in the Premier League table, level on points with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.