Gerrard thanked an emotional Anfield crowd after making his final appearance in front of the Kop on Saturday, but hopes of a fairytale ending were shattered as Crystal Palace ran out 3-1 winners.
The 34-year-old is joining MLS outfit LA Galaxy this summer after a 17-year professional career on Merseyside that has yielded every major honour bar the Premier League, and Rodgers admits his captain will leave a monumental void.
"I have always said he is a player and a person who is irreplaceable with the standard he has set and what he has done here," Rodgers told reporters. "We will have to plot a way to improve in the summer, and that is our challenge.
"In my time here, we have lost a couple of players in Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. Those two players in the Premier League years here have been monumental.
"Throw in a world-class player like Luis Suarez and of course it is difficult, but we will rise to the challenge.
"He got a wonderful send-off and did everything right until the very end. The support he got was absolutely brilliant and what they would expect of him. He has been a wonderful player and gave his all for the club. It was fantastic for him and his family."
