Liverpool Urged to Sign ‘Brilliant’ Aston Villa Star – “He’s a Physical Monster!” | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Interest in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers: Data, Versatility and the Transfer Equation

In the latest episode of Transfer Market Metrics on Anfield Index, host Dave Davis is joined by Dr Phil Barter to dissect the credentials of Morgan Rogers, the Aston Villa attacker frequently linked with Liverpool. Barter sets the tone: “The thing with Rogers is, and I think this is why for me it’s so uniquely hard to profile… he’s played attacking midfielder, wide left, wide right and even as a false nine.”

This theme of versatility runs deep through the episode. Rogers, who has clocked over 4,000 minutes and started 50 games this season, is praised for his adaptability, which Davis suggests is “a massive selling point.” But Dr Barter flags a subtle downside: “It almost counts against him a little bit in the metrics… because for you to get an FBRef profile in a different position, you have to play that amount of minutes.”

Statistical Showdown: Rogers vs Liverpool’s Current Options

Using FBRef data and percentile charts, Barter compares Rogers directly to Liverpool’s own Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Díaz. Statistically, Szoboszlai “outperforms them all” in defensive categories—“aerials, tackles, interceptions, blocks, and clearances,” whereas Rogers comes out weaker. In passing metrics, the gap widens significantly: “There’s almost four bands of a wagon wheel between Dom’s volume and Morgan’s.”

When comparing to Díaz, the conversation turns. “Defensively, Morgan does actually outperform Díaz for clearances and for blocks,” Barter notes. And then the surprising stat: “Roger’s got more assists… and he’s got more expected assists than Díaz.”

Still, in attacking metrics such as pass completion and goal output, Díaz leads. Rogers is described as “in pretty much just over the first ring” of percentile compared to Díaz’s “outer ring.” Despite this, Davis believes in Rogers’ upside: “I really think he could be an absolute force for us on that left-hand side.”

Strength, Physicality and the Eye Test

Barter is emphatic about Rogers’ physical capabilities. “He’s a physical monster… that acceleration, that power away, that push off from players.” He likens Rogers’ traits to those of a “man-style” player, indicating he passes the so-called eye test with flying colours.

On raw output, the stats are hard to ignore: “14 goals and 13 assists in all competitions,” said Davis, adding, “That FBRef [profile] doesn’t look too impressive, but all that will come into the analysis.”

Photo: IMAGO

Fit for Liverpool?

Both Davis and Barter express enthusiasm—albeit cautious—for Rogers joining Liverpool. Dr Barter concludes: “He is a good player… he’s become a pretty key player for Villa.” Davis, more exuberant, declares, “I would be ecstatic if Morgan Rogers came to Liverpool.”

But both are pragmatic too. Davis notes, “Taking 444 is not bad for goals and assists,” but adds, “I think we also need to make sure we’re improving the first eleven in some areas.” Ultimately, it’s about context—versatility, age (22), left-footedness, and experience in both Premier League and Champions League come together to make Rogers a tempting proposition.

Rogers could function as a utility player in Arne Slot’s newly-crowned Premier League champions, or perhaps more than that if properly embedded in the system. Barter summarises it best: “You’ve got to get him in and find where to play him and where he fits in your system.”