STEVEN Gerrard last night described the 2-0 defeat that Rangers suffered at the hands of Lyon in their opening Europa League group game at Ibrox as “harsh” – but admitted his men had been punished for making two careless mistakes by quality opponents.

Goals from Karl Toko Ekambi in the first-half and Islam Slimani in the second ensured the French club won 2-0 and moved immediately to the top of Group A as Brondby and Sparta Prague drew 0-0 in Denmark.

Gerrard felt that the Scottish champions had created enough opportunities to earn something from the game and argued that the final scoreline did not reflect how well James Tavernier and his team mates had performed.

However, the Liverpool and England great confessed that in continental competition sides will capitalise on errors far more ruthlessly than they do at domestic level.

“I think we gave a lot to the game,” said Gerrard. “I don’t want to be too critical because I think in large parts we showed we can compete at this level. We played some good stuff. We created some half-decent openings.

“Obviously the keeper has made a top save from Ryan Kent which could have got us back into the game at 1-1. And then we created some decent moments without being clear-cut. So I think the scoreline is slightly harsh on us.

“We have made two mistakes in the game, clear mistakes if you like. We have turned the ball over in the first-half and been punished for it because good players do that to you.

“I am a bit disappointed with our defending at the second goal because we win the ball back on the halfway line, we allow it to be switched and Greegs makes a good save. But our reactions from the save aren’t good enough.

Speaking to BT Sport, Gerrard added: “The players know that’s not good enough. With all due respect, sometimes domestically you can give the ball away in those areas and your reactions can be like that and maybe at times you can get away with it.

“But not at Europa League level against high calibre players. If you turn the ball over while a team is open you leave yourself very vulnerable.

“We asked at half-time to believe in themselves a little bit more. We had some good moments in the first-half – Ryan Kent’s chance, John Lundstram has ht a left foot shot just wide, a couple of set piece moments that could have fallen for us.

“So we said to them at half-time: ‘Believe in yourselves a bit more. Keep asking questions, be a bit more bold, a bit more brave, in the final third’. We tried, but the second goal is a big, decisive moment in the game.”

Rangers have reached the last 16 of the Europa League in the last two seasons – but Gerrard denied that his players had struggled to cope with the expectations on them to do well and insisted they can still reach the knockout rounds.

“There is only the pressure that we put on ourselves,” he said. “I am someone who is always talking about standards. The players know what I demand, what my staff demand, what the club demands, what the fans demand. We are well aware of that. There is no criticism of the players today. We have to swat this. The week is too important.

“We can still get out of the group. Lyon came out of Pot 1. We know they’re a good team. Okay, I don’t think there much in the gap today from both teams. But they’ve taken two situations really well.

“We can be better in those situations so we need to learn from this quickly."