Rogers has hit the ground running at Chelsea
Rogers has hit the ground running at Chelsea | Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
After struggling to create chances in the first half against Manchester United on Saturday, it was Morgan Rogers who broke the deadlock after 50 minutes, jinking his way through United defenders before lifting it over Senne Lammens.
That goal was Rogers' fifth Premier League goal of the season, to go with an assist, sits joint third in the golden boot race alongside teammate, Joao Pedro, ex-Chelsea man, Nicolas Jackson, and Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier.
Many eyebrows were raised when Chelsea paid Aston Villa £117 million in the summer, but since then, Rogers has impressed in a Chelsea shirt and formed a formidable front three with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, dubbed "JP Morgan."
Rogers received praise last night on Monday night football from Jamie Carragher and Seamus Coleman, with the former Liverpool captain admitting that he was completely wrong about his transfer from Villa to Chelsea, and praising him for being an "absolute revelation" for Chelsea.
When analysing his performance against Manchester United, Coleman made a comparison of Morgan Rogers to Dele Alli, saying the two play similarly and occupy the same areas of the pitch, especially with the type of runs that Alli used to make into the penalty box for Tottenham.
" “It’s so difficult for a full-back and right centre-back because usually you would also have a left-back bombing on as well. I think the communication between [the right-back] and the right centre-back is key. You really don’t want them getting in between you.
“He reminds me of that run I used to defend against Dele Alli when he played for Tottenham.”"
It was a big summer of transfers in the Premier League, with the fee for the most expensive British footballer being broken twice, with Elliot Anderson going from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City for £116 million, but getting broken shortly after with Rogers moving to Chelsea. Whilst both signed for hefty fees, Carragher believes that from his early performances for the Blues, Rogers is looking like a "bargain."
"I think it was one of those transfers in the summer, a little bit like Elliot Anderson, where we all went, 'Wow.' The figure, what was it, £117m? He’s been absolutely fantastic, a revelation for Chelsea."
In Xabi Alonso's current system at Chelsea, it gives his attacking talent freedom to express themselves, and where Rogers sets up, it means he can pop up in little pockets of space undetected, predominantly playing on the left-hand side whether that be in a four- or five-at-the-back formation.
Carragher touched on Rogers' versatility and positioning, as well as the level of goal threat that he brings, and something that the Englishman has added to his game.
""He’s scoring all types of different goals. Every goal he gets is different.""