Brendan Rodgers feels Leicester City deserved to beat Aston Villa on Wednesday.

The Carabao Cup semi-final is evenly poised after the first-leg finished 1-1 at King Power Stadium.

"I thought we played well," Rodgers told LCFC TV. "In the first half, we were too slow both in attack and when we pressed the game. We were too passive.

"They didn't have too many opportunities. The one that they scored, we're disappointed with. We should defend that much better.

"I thought, first half, even though we had a couple of chances, we weren't aggressive enough both with the ball and without the ball.

"We bring Hamza [Choudhury] into the game and I thought he was sensational when he came in – pressing, playing it – and I thought he was very, very good.

"From that, in the second half, we were really dominant. The 'keeper (Ørjan Nyland) has made some great saves, they've got some great blocks in, Aston Villa, so you have to give them credit.

"Overall, we deserved to win the game, but didn't and like I say, we showed great mentality to come back after going behind."