Aston Villa’s sudden surge into the Premier League title conversation has been one of the stories of the season. Written off only weeks ago after a faltering start, Unai Emery’s side have pieced together a run that has forced rivals, pundits and supporters to look again at what once seemed unthinkable.
Ten straight wins in all competitions have lifted Villa into genuine contention, piling pressure on Manchester City and perennial challengers Arsenal.
For a club that struggled badly in the opening weeks, the turnaround has been dramatic. Villa needed five league matches to score their first goal of the campaign, a drought that prompted questions about Emery’s future and the club’s direction.
The early signs were bleak, the football cautious and the results uninspiring. At that point, talk of a title challenge would have sounded absurd.
Yet football seasons can pivot quickly. Confidence has replaced uncertainty, Villa Park has rediscovered its edge, and Emery’s tactical clarity has re-emerged.
At the heart of that belief is one player whose form has transformed Villa’s season and reframed the title debate. Morgan Rogers has emerged not just as a key contributor, but as the figure around whom Villa’s hopes revolve.
His influence has been so significant that, according to one former Liverpool defender, Villa’s Premier League title challenge may depend on whether Rogers can reach historic levels.
Speaking after Villa’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United, a match in which Rogers scored twice, Jamie Carragher argued that Villa’s hopes rest almost entirely on their standout attacker reaching extraordinary heights.
“I said last week that I felt for Aston Villa to really challenge for this title, they need Morgan Rogers to be the best player in this league, almost like the PFA Player of the Year, and he’d probably be in the running if he keeps going as he is,” Carragher said.
The former Liverpool defender was clear that this was not a slight on Villa’s collective strength, but an acknowledgement of the realities of a title race against elite opposition.
To overcome clubs with deeper squads and greater experience, Villa would need something exceptional — a season from one player that redefines expectations.
Carragher’s comparison was deliberate and striking. He looked back to one of the most iconic individual campaigns in Premier League history, when Luis Suarez almost carried Liverpool to Premier League title in 2013-14.
That season remains a benchmark for individual brilliance, a reminder of how one player can elevate a good team into something close to greatness.
“I was thinking about Luis Suarez, probably 10 or 12 years ago, where he almost dragged a Liverpool team, who you would have said were probably fifth or sixth best team in the league… he was the best player in the league by a mile, and he dragged that Liverpool team within a game or two of winning the league,” Carragher said.
The parallels, in Carragher’s view, are clear. Like that Liverpool side, Villa are not widely regarded as the strongest team in the division. Their recent results have been impressive, but their squad does not carry the same weight as City’s, nor the same collective maturity as Arsenal’s.
- Erling Haaland sends 2-word message after Salah and Marmoush’s dramatic late win
- Real Madrid explore surprise loan move for Man City defender
For Villa to bridge that gap, Rogers must continue producing match-winning moments at an extraordinary rate.
Rogers’ impact against Manchester United offered a snapshot of what Carragher was describing. His two goals were decisive, his movement sharp, and his confidence unmistakable. More importantly, he has delivered consistently, becoming Villa’s reference point in attack and the player opponents fear most.
“Probably the same with Aston Villa. Even though the results are fantastic, I still feel like I’m looking at a team who should be fighting to get into the Champions League places, rather than fighting for the title,” he said.
That assessment underlines the scale of the task ahead. City boast Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and a supporting cast capable of winning games without playing at their best.
Arsenal have spread their goals and responsibilities across the team. Villa, by contrast, appear more dependent on one man turning tight matches in their favour.
Carragher’s conclusion was blunt but clear. “The only reason I feel like they could fight for the title is if he continues how he’s going and becomes the best player (in the Premier League). That’s the only way I can see them doing it.”