Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said Chelsea striker Diego Costa could have avoided contact with two of his opponents on dangerous incidents on a night when tensions threatened to boil over in a feisty Capital One Cup semifinal at Stamford Bridge.
A Branislav Ivanovic extra-time goal sent Chelsea through to the Wembley final, yet the post match analysis focused on Costa's apparent stamps on Liverpool duo Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.
"It was poor from him. He doesn't need to do it. It wasn't good for the game," Rodgers said of the Costa incidents. "He's an outstanding player, an outstanding footballer. He has this edge to him.
"With Emre Can, that was poor, I felt. He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty. And again the one with Martin Skrtel. There's no need to do it. That's the sad thing of it.
"He's a top-class player and he's clever enough that the officials don't see it. The referee didn't see it. When you see it afterwards, it's disappointing."
Rodgers went on to suggest his team deserved to beat Premier League leaders Chelsea over the two legs of the semifinal, as he credited Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois for winning the tie for his side.
"I think we were the better side over the two games, but ultimately you've got to get the place in the final," Rodgers said. "I think the goalkeeper for them has won them the tie really. Performance-wise, we were outstanding. Again in the second leg, some of our play was very good and we created chances.
"There weren't going to be many chances in the game for both sides, but certainly in the first half we created enough to maybe get a couple of goals, but their keeper made some very good saves and ultimately, I think, has won them the tie.
"I sit here with pride. There's disappointment we haven't got through, but Chelsea arrived at the top of their game when they came to Anfield last week and we were outstanding and should have won that game.
"We were very, very good again. The learning for us is to make the next step -- you saw a lot of young players out there working, and now we've got to make the next step and try to go on and win a trophy
"We created the chances, particularly in the first half and at Anfield. We had enough opportunities to score, but just couldn't make the finishing touch.
"Of course it hurts because you put so much into it. You saw at the end, they were dead on their feet in extra time -- we had nothing else.
"We did everything in the game; we played 3-4-3 and flipped the team about in extra time to play with a diamond three to try to create more pressure.
"For us to be successful, at times it's got to hurt as well. In this competition in particular, we've started to get our flow in our football back again and, very importantly for us, how we press the game. I thought we gave Chelsea a lot of problems, but it wasn't to be."