Jamie Carragher believes Morgan Rodgers could be the player to take Aston Villa closer to the Premier League title and believes the 23-year-old has the chance to keep Jude Bellingham away from the England side at the World Cup.
Rodgers scored twice, including a stunning 25-yard winner, to help Villa maintain a three-point lead over Premier League leaders Arsenal after a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over West Ham.
The England international has scored five goals and provided three assists in 16 Premier League games this season and Carragher described him as “something special” after his brilliant performance at the London Stadium helped Villa claim their 10th win in 11 games.
“It was a complete turnaround to what we saw in the first few weeks of the season,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“We keep going back to the manager, and rightly so. If you look at his career and what he’s done in his managerial career, I think there’s only one better manager in the Premier League right now than Unai Emery, Pep Guardiola.”
“There are some top managers in the league, but Emery has had a great career and has done a great job at Villa.”
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Highlights of the Premier League match between West Ham and Aston Villa.
“But Morgan Rogers is special.”
“He’s one of those players that came out of nowhere,” he added.
“They signed him from Middlesbrough for a not-so-huge sum. He’s now not only one of the best young players in the Premier League, as he was last season, but now he’s looking like one of the best players in the Premier League.”
“If Aston Villa feel they can continue to fight for the league title or continue to win, that could be the key.”
“The most important thing for me is how he is working tactically, offensively and defensively, and now he is scoring goals. He always works with great dedication. He is developing very quickly and performing better because he is physically strong and mentally huge.”
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery talks about Rodgers
Can Rodgers drag Villa to the title?
Despite being winless in their first five games, Aston Villare have enjoyed their best run in over 100 years and their come-from-behind win in east London means they remain firmly in the Premier League title race alongside Arsenal and Man City.
And while Carragher doesn’t believe Emery’s side will lift the trophy in May, he believes Rodgers could have a chance if given the chance.
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Morgan Rodgers’ stunning shot puts Aston Villa ahead against West Ham.
Carragher said: “Can Villa win the title? I don’t think they can, but if they are going to win the title, and if Man City win the title, they have the best player in the league, Erling Haaland.”
“When I look at Arsenal right now, I think of Declan Rice. If they continue to win the league, I think Rice will be a player of the year candidate.”
“But in Aston Villa’s case, who can lead them to the title? Who is that special person who can make them head and shoulders above anyone else in the league?”
Rodgers celebrates after scoring his second goal against West Ham
“The player I’m looking at is Rodgers.
“Could he, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year last year, be the PFA Player of the Year again this season and take Villa that much closer to the league title?”
“The real battle between Bellingham and Rodgers for England’s number one place” 10 shirts”
Rodgers celebrates Aston Villa’s win over West Ham
Rodgers’ form this season has seen him become a regular player in the England squad under manager Thomas Tuchel.
There is plenty of competition for the Three Lions’ number 10 shirt, with many expecting Jude Bellingham to return as a starter in time for next summer’s World Cup.
But Carragher doesn’t think Bellingham’s return is a given because of Rodgers’ form.
Carragher said: “Rodgers, along with Elliott Anderson, has been one of the players in the last six months for England that most people have looked at and thought it would be a bold move to have them in the England squad.”
“But the longer they’re there, the more they think they should be there.
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Rob Dorsett and Pete Smith discuss the key points of England’s 2-0 win against Serbia, in which Thomas Tuchel kept his word and named a surprising starting XI.
“What I’m saying is that Rodgers is competing with probably our best player right now, and he’s playing for Real Madrid in Jude Bellingham. Bellingham played in the last game, but in most people’s eyes, and certainly in my eyes, if we go to the World Cup, Bellingham will be playing in that position.”
“But the more I watch Rodgers play, and the more I think Thomas Tuchel thinks the same way, it’s not an easy decision for Bellingham to come back.
“This is a real battle for Bellingham and Rodgers to see who will play in the number 10 position next to Harry Kane at the World Cup for England.
“If Rodgers continues to play like that, it’s not a given.”
