Brendan Rodgers hails "big" Liverpool performance

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that his side were unlucky not win their League Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea this evening.

Raheem Sterling's second-half goal earned the Reds a 1-1 draw ahead of next week's second leg at Stamford Bridge.

"We're getting better with every game, you can see the confidence returning," Rodgers told BBC Sport. "We were very unfortunate not to win the game. We went behind against the run of play but we created opportunities.

"You've seen the return of the aggression in our intensity. The only thing which was missing was more than one goal. You'd expect Chelsea to open up a little more in the second leg and that will help us because of the pace and invention we have in the team.

"They have got a good record at home but we haven't conceded in our last three games away from home. We know it's going to be a difficult game. It felt like a big game tonight and the performance was big."

Liverpool have now extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine matches.