Virgil van Dijk acknowledged Liverpool were at fault for their mistakes in their Champions League loss to Real Madrid but argued they cannot expect to perform like "robots".
Liverpool blew a two-goal lead at Anfield, slumping to a 5-2 loss in the first leg of their last-16 tie against the holders.
Amid a difficult season for Jurgen Klopp's side, their collapse against Madrid made for a chastening rematch of last year's final, which finished 1-0 to Los Blancos in Paris.
Van Dijk did not dispute another off-colour performance yet the centre-back stressed errors are to be expected when players are only human.
"[Across] the whole of the Champions League, there are quality players all over teams," he told reporters. "They can punish you, and can punish the mistakes that you make.
"That's what they did in the second half, and it is pretty clear to see. [There were] mistakes that we shouldn't make, but it happens in football.
"We're not robots, sometimes mistakes happen. That is the case. The only thing we can do is learn from it and focus on the next one to ensure it doesn't happen [again]."
After goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah had given them a two-goal cushion inside the opening 15 minutes, Liverpool seemed on course for a memorable Anfield triumph.
Yet their defensive frailties came to the fore as Vinicius Junior curled in a supreme finish before pouncing on Alisson's mistake to restore parity.
Eder Militao put Madrid ahead early in the second half before Karim Benzema's double left the hosts with a mountain to climb in the return leg next month.
Klopp was less than impressed with cheap concessions, but did feel his side's first-half performance was among the best they have delivered this campaign.
"We gave all five goals away," he said in his post-match press conference.
"All five. We could have done better there [but] in our situation where we are, it is really important we that see positive steps.
"I think the first half, aside from the two goals we conceded, was the best we've played [across] the whole season.
"The second half obviously was the game Real Madrid wanted to play, and that's how we came to the result."
Arsenal handed BK Hacken reunion, Man City to face Paris FC in Women's Champions League
Arsenal, Manchester City and Celtic found out their opponents for the Women's Champions League qualifying second round on Monday.
All three will play the first leg away from home, with Jonas Eidevall's side, who beat Rangers and Rosenborg to reach this stage of the tournament, facing BK Hacken.
The Swedish side reached the quarter-finals last year for the first time in the competition since the 2012-13 edition.
BK Hacken also played Arsenal in the last eight of the tournament during the 2011-12 season, with the Gunners winning 3-2 on aggregate.
Man City kickstart their Champions League campaign after finishing second in the Women's Super League last term against Paris FC.
The French side beat Real Madrid home and away last year but finished third in a group that contained Chelsea and BK Hacken.
Celtic were the only British team to be involved in the Champions Path draw and will face Ukrainian champions Vorskla Poltava.
The first legs of the two-legged ties will take place on September 18 and 19, with the returns on September 25 and 26.
Those that emerge victorious in the round-two qualifying fixtures will progress to the group stages of the competition, joining Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
'I want to be a number one' – Kelleher eyes Liverpool departure
Caoimhin Kelleher is ready to leave Liverpool in search of first-team football.
Kelleher, 25, has been Alisson's back-up for several seasons at Anfield, though did play in some big games during Jurgen Klopp's time in charge.
That included starring in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea in 2022.
However, with Liverpool having signed Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will join next season, Kelleher believes the time is right to move on.
And the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper suggested he could have left this summer, if Liverpool had not rejected offers.
"I made it clear in the last few years I want to go be a number one and play week in, week out," said Kelleher ahead of Ireland's Nations League clash with Greece.
"The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper.
"From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.
"My ambition has always been clear the last few seasons that I want to be a number one, playing week in week out.
"At times it is not always in my hands. My mission was to go out and play, and be a number one.
"It has been reported that Liverpool had rejected a few bids as well. It is not always in my hands to make the decision. My ambition is to prove I am good enough to play week in, week out."
Kelleher made seven saves from nine shots against England on Saturday, and could do little to prevent either Declan Rice or Jack Grealish scoring to hand the Three Lions a 2-0 win.
'I deserved it' – Rodrygo frustrated by Ballon d'Or shortlist omission
Rodrygo believes he deserved to be in the reckoning for this year's Ballon d'Or, and thinks his versatility may have worked against him.
The Real Madrid attacker was a notable omission from the shortlist of 30 names that was announced last week.
The 23-year-old scored 17 goals and registered nine assists in 51 appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions last season.
However, while team-mates Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, new Madrid star Kylian Mbappe and even the now-retired Toni Kroos were nominated, Rodrygo was snubbed.
"I was upset, I think I deserved it," Rodrygo told ESPN.
"I don't want to belittle the players who are there, I think they deserved it also.
"But I think I had a place in the 30. It was a surprise but there is not much I can do as I'm not the one who decides these things."
Rodrygo has played on the right flank and up front under Carlo Ancelotti, and he suggested that does not always get the best out of him.
"Often, I'm just filling spaces," Rodrygo added.
"Is someone missing there? Put Rodrygo in. Is someone missing on the right? Rodrygo. Is someone missing as number nine? Rodrygo. That's it.
"It may get in my way a little, but I'm a team player."
Only three players – Ilkay Gundogan (211), Valverde (211) and Iago Aspas (193) – contributed to more shots in open play in LaLiga last season than Rodrygo (171), who created 80 chances for his team-mates.
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