Jamie Carragher believes Morgan Rogers could be the catalyst that drives Aston Villa close to the Premier League title and has a shot at displacing Jude Bellingham for England’s No.10 role at the World Cup.
Rogers scored twice — including a stunning 25-yard winner — as Villa came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2, keeping them three points behind leaders Arsenal. The 23-year-old now has five goals and three assists in 16 Premier League games this season. Carragher described him as “something special” after his display at the London Stadium helped Villa to a 10th victory from 11 matches.
“The upturn in form since what we saw in the first few weeks of the season, it’s been a complete contrast,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. He praised Unai Emery’s record, saying only Pep Guardiola might be a better manager in the Premier League right now, and added: “But Morgan Rogers is something special.”
Carragher noted Rogers’ rise from relative obscurity after Villa signed him from Middlesbrough for a modest fee. “He’s gone on right now to not just being one of the best young players in the Premier League, which is what he was last season, but he’s now looking like one of the best players in the Premier League,” he said. “That could be key if Aston Villa do feel that they could go on and contest the league title or go on and win it.”
Can Rogers drag Villa to the title?
Having been winless in their first five matches, Villa are now enjoying their best run in more than a century, and the comeback win in east London keeps them firmly in the title race alongside Arsenal and Manchester City. Carragher, though, is cautious about Villa actually winning the league, pointing to the elite players at rival clubs — Erling Haaland at City and Declan Rice at Arsenal — but suggested Villa’s challenge could hinge on one standout performer.
“The one player I look at is Rogers,” Carragher said. “PFA young player of the year before, could he now go on and be PFA player of the year this season and drag Villa really close to a league title.”
Rogers celebrates after scoring his second goal of the game against West Ham, underlining his growing influence on the team’s ascent.
A real fight for England’s No.10
Rogers’ form has also made him a regular for England under Thomas Tuchel, and Carragher believes there is now a genuine contest for the No.10 spot behind Harry Kane. While many expect Jude Bellingham to reclaim the role by the World Cup, Carragher warned that Bellingham’s return is not guaranteed if Rogers maintains his level.
“Rogers has been one of those players, along with Elliot Anderson, in the last six months for England who most people look at and think it’s a bold move to have them in the England team,” Carragher said. “However, the longer they are in there, you think they should be in there.”
He added: “What I would say is Rogers is competing with arguably our best player right now and he plays for Real Madrid in Jude Bellingham. Bellingham played the last game and in most people’s eyes, and certainly in mine, once we get to the World Cup Bellingham will be playing in that position. But the more I watch Rogers play, and I actually think Thomas Tuchel thinks like this, it’s not an easy decision that Bellingham comes back in. This is a real fight for Bellingham and Rogers to see who is going to play in that No.10 position behind Harry Kane at the World Cup for England. If Rogers keeps playing like that, it’s certainly not a given.”