London, Jan 15 (ANI): Liverpool vice captain Jamie Carragher has issued a public apology to the club fans for their FA Cup humiliation.

A defeat to Reading on Wednesday night was the latest chapter in a season that has already seen Liverpool dumped out of the Champions League and fall way behind in the race for the Premier League title.

The defeat comes against a backdrop of boardroom turmoil that saw co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett fall out while the club is suffering financial hardship, The Sun reports.

“We have to apologise for the way we performed. It was a very bad night for Liverpool and we can’t disguise that, we had to do more against a side from a lower league. We have to accept Reading deserved it. But, at the same time, we have got to look at ourselves and the way we performed was not acceptable,” Carragher said.

“We’ve got a massive game coming up against Stoke now on Saturday. It will be very tough, as we played extra-time and we have got to show enormous character to come back.

“But that’s what we have got to do. We have got to move on but, at the same time, we have to say sorry to the fans who came to Anfield and all those watching on TV. The stuff that goes on off the field has got nothing to do with it. I don’t think so, anyway. If you say it has, you are only making excuses,” Carragher added.

Liverpool, runners-up in the Premier League last term, is languishing at seventh place this season and already 12 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Even more worryingly, they are five points behind Manchester City, who occupy the crucial fourth and final Champions League spot. (ANI)