Ronald Araujo's performance for Liverpool in their win over Brighton has convinced John Aldridge that the club must complete a permanent transfer for the defender, describing it as a "no-brainer".
Writing in his weekly column, Aldridge said beating Brighton is "a really good result" for Liverpool and that the team "sent out a statement". He praised Brighton, noting they "beat Arsenal, they battered Arsenal" and came to Anfield "with an intent to win".
While he disagreed with Brighton's manager's claim that they were the only team trying to create chances, Aldridge acknowledged they were good and missed a couple of really good chances. "But we took ours," he wrote. "It could have gone either way to be quite honest, but Liverpool did enough to get the win."
Aldridge: Araujo is a no-brainer signing
Aldridge described Araujo as "a throwback to a 70s or 80s player", praising the way he put his head on the ball in front of the Kop. "I saw it and went, 'Wow!'" he wrote. "Not many people in this day and age would do anything like that for fear of getting stamped on the head."
He said the crowd takes to that kind of full-blooded commitment, adding that fans demand players who get stuck in and don't duck out of 50/50 challenges at Anfield. He referenced Conor Bradley on Kylian Mbappe, Daniel Agger on Fernando Torres, Jon Flanagan on Raheem Sterling, and Liverpool players against Lionel Messi as examples.
"Araujo's no mug," Aldridge wrote. "You don't play for Barcelona and captain them if you're not a really good player. And he's playing out of position and he's doing a great job."
He argued it is "a no-brainer to sign Araujo permanently now", noting Liverpool will lose Virgil van Dijk soon and that Araujo is "captain material" and "a leader". He said the trial period is over and that at 27, Araujo is a good age to be a really good player for the next three or four years. "So, whenever they can trigger that clause, get it done," he wrote.
Attacking options looking rosy
Aldridge also said Florian Wirtz is playing his way into form after lacking confidence and belief earlier in the season, and that Bradley Barcola is starting to fit in after scoring a hat-trick and making goals.
He highlighted the attacking players at Liverpool, including Rio Ngumoha, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak, who "has got to stay fit", and Victor Munoz, predicting they will all gel more and build blossoming partnerships.
With Hugo Ekitike set to return, Aldridge concluded: "All of a sudden it's rosy up top. You've got options. Long may it continue."
