Cole Palmer vs Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa star moves ahead in England World Cup 2026 stakes

Vying for No. 10 spot 

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Both came through the Manchester City academy, both earned big moves away from their boyhood club and both became household Premier League names. Now, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer are competing for a starting spot in England’s starting XI under Thomas Tuchel at the 2026 World Cup. And on Saturday, when Chelsea hosted Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge for an intriguing encounter against two top-four hopefuls, it provided a mouthwatering match-up between the pair.

Rogers, with seven goals and three assists in 17 appearances, had been in fine form heading into the game. The same couldn’t be said for Palmer, who had contributed just seven goals and assists for the entirety of 2025. Palmer looks a way short of 100 per cent match fitness despite returning to action a few weeks ago and it was apparent again as he cut a frustrated figure during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat, having led 1-0 at half-time.

Enzo Maresca has been easing the 24-year-old back into action, perhaps with some fears that a recurrence of his groin injury could see him ruled out for several weeks or months again. But it’s fair to say the playmaker, understandably, hasn’t quite looked like the player who fired 22 goals in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.

But in the Midlands, Rogers has bounced back from a slow start to the season to emerge as one of the form players in the Premier League this season. Much like his season so far, he struggled to get going in the first half against Chelsea as Villa failed to register a single shot. However, Unai Emery’s reshuffle 12 minutes into the second half proved to be effective in getting his side back into the game.

It was Rogers who picked up the ball in the middle of the park from Youri Tielemans and he threaded the ball into substitute Ollie Watkins’ path, as he watched his England colleague squeeze the ball underneath Robert Sanchez for the equaliser. Villa continued to pile forward in search of a winner and Rogers, along with Tielemans, was instrumental in creating opportunities and it felt like a matter of time before Villa would find the winner. Palmer, meanwhile, was frankly unamused when his number appeared on the fourth official’s board, signalling for him to be replaced.

Villa’s resurgence paid off in the 84th minute, with Watkins inexplicably allowed a free header from Tielemans’ corner. While Palmer sat on the bench wearing a grim expression, Rogers and his Villa teammates danced around by the corner flag of the Stamford Bridge with the thousands of travelling supporters. To see his friend celebrating at his expense must’ve hurt, and Tuchel – if he was watching – would’ve taken notice of the contrast in their displays.

And with under six months to go until the plane takes off to the other side of the Atlantic for the month-long tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the momentum is very much with Rogers heading into the second half of the season. After their third home defeat of the season in the league, Chelsea badly need the Palmer of old to return – and for his sake too, with Rogers in pole position in the battle of the No. 10s this coming summer.