Ronald Araujo has become a crowd favourite at Anfield since joining Liverpool on loan from Barcelona in the summer, with both Virgil van Dijk and Andoni Iraola praising the defender's impact. Araujo was initially seen as cover for the centre-back positions but has been almost exclusively used as a right-back by Iraola so far.
Araujo's standout performance against Brighton
Araujo delivered arguably his most effective performance for the club in Sunday's 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield, where the Reds raced into a two-goal lead before protecting their clean sheet to register a fourth straight win in all competitions. He has also proved adept at the other end during that run, scoring in the Champions League victories over LASK and Villarreal.
It is his will to win and commitment that has impressed Reds fans, and this was addressed in both Van Dijk and Iraola's programme notes ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie against Chelsea.
Van Dijk highlights Araujo's aggression
In his captain's column, Van Dijk said: "I think we showed a lot of really good things in Sunday's game against Brighton. We knew we would have to work extremely hard as a team if we wanted to get the three points, and I think we did that really well."
"The commitment of every player, that desire to fight and to defend and to protect the clean sheet, was top, and shows the standard required from everybody going forward," he added. "I know that you guys appreciate it when you see a team that is willing to fight from the first whistle to the last, and that is what we want to give you, every single time. When you see someone like Ronald making challenges, being aggressive at the right times, everyone responds and that energy can really help the team going forward."
Iraola loves the supporters' response
Iraola indirectly referred to Araujo when he discussed what he 'loved' about the win over the Seagulls. "The victory over Brighton showed once again the importance of doing the basics well. I love that this is something that our supporters respond to," said the Reds boss.
"This was something I knew already from my time as an opposition manager but feeling it on this side – especially those moments when the whole crowd reacts to a tackle being won or a player showing big desire – is something that, like winning, I could never get enough of. We know it will not be easy but we are looking to create more of those moments tonight. If we can do this, we will see where it takes us."
