Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Fri 1 May 2026 13:21, UK

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Morgan Rogers has goaded Elliot Anderson on social media after Nottingham Forest narrowly beat Aston Villa 1-0 in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg.

Chris Wood’s penalty was the difference between the teams at the City Ground, with the striker making no mistake after Lucas Digne was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Villa had their chances but have ultimately been forced to lick their wounds ahead of next week’s decisive clash at Villa Park.

The battle between the England internationals involved for both sides has been a key talking point of the Europa League semi-final tie.

Rogers’ Villa form has been superb this season, and the same can be said for Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Rogers sends fiery Elliot Anderson message

Football Insider exclusively revealed last month that Bayern Munich are interested in Rogers, along with several other of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The midfielder has enjoyed another excellent season, and he was one of just a few Villa players who looked as if they could make a difference on Thursday.

The 23-year-old went close when his effort was saved well by Stefan Ortega, and he should have had an assist when Ollie Watkins could only poke his deflected pass straight at the goalkeeper.

Rogers was undoubtedly outshone by his England teammate Anderson, however, who ran the game from midfield and even embarrassed the Villa man in one moment.

Midway through the first half, the former Newcastle United man dragged back the ball before rolling it through his man’s legs, in an ingenious moment of skill.

But he may well have been sent off in the same half, after Anderson caught Watkins on the ankle with his studs in a sliding challenge.

The midfielder took to Instagram after the game, posting a number of images captioned: “1/2”.

Rogers, in a fiery move that could well spectacularly blow up in his face next week, commented on the post and wrote: “See you next week mate.”

Rogers and Anderson battle one to watch

With both Anderson and Rogers expected to go to the World Cup with England this summer, the comment was, in all likelihood, left in good faith.

But whether it is taken as confidence or naivety, the Villa man has stoked the flames of battle ahead of next week’s second leg.

Anderson and Nottingham Forest would already have been fired up for a chance to make it to the Europa League final, but they will be even more up for it now.

The all-England battle will likely be one watched closely by Thomas Tuchel, with the victor to hold the bragging rights in North America.