"They are European champions and are ahead of us on know-how even if in pains me to say so," said Pearce.
"We were facing a side with great pedigree and experience and when they got their noses in front they made it very difficult.
"We have young players who are learning. Stevie Ireland was playing against the European champions when a few weeks ago he hadn't played against anybody!
"Liverpool are at a higher level. Against 70 per cent of the Premier League, playing like that we would have won.
"We have to wait for our young players to mature before we are able to consistently beat sides as experienced and organised as Liverpool."