Why Ronald Araújo Is Becoming a Loan Star for Liverpool

When Liverpool brought in Ronald Araújo on loan from Barcelona last summer, a few people questioned the move. Andoni Iraola’s trust in the defender is now looking well placed.

There is an old warning against getting attached to borrowed things, such as a library book or a hire car. The Anfield crowd ignored it on Sunday. Araújo made that impossible.

Supporters want two things from a player: quality and commitment. When both lead to a win, little else is required.

A Hard-Earned Win With a Defensive Hero

Liverpool were pushed by a confident Brighton & Hove Albion side before winning 2-0. Both goals came early. Florian Wirtz’s shot forced a Pascal Groß own goal, and Alexander Isak then finished Bradley Barcola’s cross to put the hosts two ahead inside 21 minutes.

Ronald Araújo makes a clearance against Brighton in Liverpool’s 2-0 win

The noise that greeted those goals was nearly matched after the break, when Araújo launched into a string of fierce but effective challenges. His efforts kept a clean sheet and secured Liverpool’s first home league points of the season.

Earlier, he had already produced a clip that spread quickly online. After blocking a Maxim De Cuyper effort, he stayed on the turf and still went in to challenge his opponent, using his head. Everyone connected with the club loved it, apart from perhaps the medical staff, who would prefer his skull stay out of harm’s way.

The numbers were also strong. Araújo had more touches than any teammate (59), won the ball back six times (only Alexis Mac Allister managed more, with seven) and cleared eight times, behind only Virgil van Dijk’s ten.

An Unexpected Signing With Good Reasons

The deal surprised many. Liverpool seldom borrow players, and taking a 27-year-old defender for a single season looked hasty for a club that prizes long-term planning. Yet there was logic behind it. Araújo had captained Barcelona, carried plenty of elite experience and generally performed well in Spain.

His form dipped last season, ending with a red card in Barcelona’s Champions League loss at Chelsea. Afterwards, he chose to step away to look after his mental health. He later told The Times he had been struggling for a long time and had stopped enjoying football. He added that he had to ask for help, including from professionals, rather than bottling things up.

Judging by his start at Liverpool, the pause and the change of scenery have worked wonders.

Built for the Premier League

Nobody expects a thunderous, all-action defender to arrive from Barcelona. Still, observers of La Liga had suggested the physical demands of English football might suit him. They were right. He has adapted quickly, and Iraola and Liverpool are reaping the benefit.

Despite being on loan, he has been trusted constantly. Only Jérémy Jacquet and Mac Allister have joined him in featuring in all 12 of the club’s games so far.

Ronald Araújo’s minutes played after Liverpool’s first 12 games of the season

Part of the reason is his flexibility. Mainly a centre-back at Barcelona, he has spent 76% of his Liverpool minutes at right-back. Conor Bradley’s long-term injury and Jeremie Frimpong’s form and fitness left a vacancy in the back four, and Araújo has slotted in smoothly.

Ronald Araújo’s minutes by position after Liverpool’s first 12 games

He gives a side that sometimes looked too easy to play against last season extra steel and defensive know-how, without costing much going forward. He has two goals and an assist in 12 appearances, all of them in the Champions League:

A cheeky backheel set up Dominik Szoboszlai against Atlético Madrid.
He headed the opener in the 6-3 win over LASK.
He scored an equaliser in last week’s 4-3 victory against Villarreal.

His attacking influence showed again against Brighton. He chased down a ball and raced to the byline, went to ground, bounced straight back up and pulled it into a dangerous area. That move led to Wirtz’s shot and the own goal that broke the deadlock.

Connecting With the Kop

That drive has helped him bond with supporters in a way few players, and almost no loanees, manage. After heading in Rio Ngumoha’s cross against Villarreal, his momentum carried him into the stands, where he hugged the fans. The referee did not book him, perhaps out of sympathy, or because the rule is widely seen as one of football’s daftest.

Liverpool supporters have a soft spot for Uruguayans. Luis Suárez was adored for his brilliance, and Darwin Núñez won affection through endeavour and unpredictability, even if his end product wavered.

Araújo’s open-hearted commitment to winning is landing well, but it is more than attitude. He has brought a balance to the defence that has been missing for some time. Jacquet has made a superb start in England, and the young Frenchman clearly benefits from having seasoned, commanding defenders alongside him.

Ronald Araújo competes in aerial duels for Liverpool

The data backs this up. In all competitions, Araújo has won 27 of 38 aerial duels (71.1%), second at Liverpool only to Van Dijk (33 of 43, 76.7%). His 39 clearances are also second to the captain’s 66.

A Roar Camp Nou Never Gave Him

Camp Nou celebrates goals, elegant passing, sharp movement and tricks, and Anfield values all of those too. But the noise that greeted his crunching late tackle on Brighton youngster Malick Yalcouyé was probably new to him. Araújo charged in, smashed the ball against the talented teenager, won a throw-in and seemingly took everything else with it. The crowd reaction might have convinced anyone in the toilets that a third goal had gone in.

English supporters watch football in a visceral way, and although Araújo comes from Rivera in Uruguay, he may have found kindred spirits on Merseyside.

Echoes of Mascherano

With respect to Nuri Sahin, Arthur Melo and Steven Caulker, Liverpool fans probably have not embraced a loan player like this since Javier Mascherano nearly two decades ago. He eventually joined permanently from West Ham before moving to Barcelona.

For now, Araújo is due back at Barcelona next summer unless Liverpool activate a reported pre-agreed £47 million option. If his form continues, passing up the chance to keep “Big Ron” at Anfield would be the bigger surprise.