Stoke City manager Mark Hughes was content with the 1-0 defeat against Liverpool in the first leg of League Cup semi-final, despite dominating the second half of the game.

The Potters will travel to Anfield for the second leg of the tie on January 26 after what was a tight contest at the Britannia Stadium in which the Potters failed to make the most of their second-half dominance.

"First half sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition," Hughes said following the game.

"They restricted space to good effect, the same as we do when we try to impose our tactics.

"They had the benefit of the goal and as a consequence they could drop deeper and protect it.

"We dominated the second half but we didn't get that break.

"The key was that we didn't concede another and that was a danger. If we conceded another one that would have been a huge task."

Stoke were beaten by Jordon Ibe's 37th-minute strike as they head into the second leg trailing by a solitary goal.