REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Victory over Ipswich Town answered plenty of questions for Liverpool and Andoni Iraola on Friday.
It proved that they can rely on Alexander Isak, who scored twice within the first nine minutes, and gave them all the evidence they need to drop Jeremie Frimpong for good.
In the Dutchman's place was Ronald Araujo. The Barcelona loanee shifted over to the right-hand side and, by no coincidence, Liverpool kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.
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Premier League stats per 90 26/27 Ronald Araujo Jeremie Frimpong
Minutes 123 161
Tackles 1.46 1.68
Duel success 68.4% 41.7%
Recoveries 2.93 3.35
Line-breaking passes 11.71 9.5
The numbers paint a fairly clear picture. Frimpong is loose in possession and weak in his duels. Araujo is the opposite. He has maintained a duel success of 68.4% and completed 11.71 line-breaking passes per 90. This means that he's fixing the leak whilst acting as a supply-line going the other way.
For players like Florian Wirtz, Isak and new man Bradley Barcola to thrive, that passing range will be crucial. Whether that makes Araujo a long-term option is another question, however.
When the big games arrive and Liverpool are forced to turn to a natural centre-back at right-back, Iraola's style may not have the same success as Mikel Arteta's does when presented with the same problem.
REUTERS/David Klein
Iraola's intense, high-pressing system requires a natural right-back, who can make an impact going forward.
Take Adrien Truffert at Bournemouth last season, for example. Only six defenders created more chances than the Frenchman last season. He was perfect for Iraola and the same can't be said for Araujo or Frimpong.
So it's back to the drawing board for the Reds, who are beginning to see the image of a six-time Champions League winner who's available at a bargain price enter their radar.
Liverpool hold talks to sign Dani Carvajal
REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
As reported by TeamTalk, Liverpool are now in talks to sign Dani Carvajal after receiving a direct approach from his representatives. The former Real Madrid man has been a free agent ever since leaving the Spanish giants and that hands those at Anfield a huge boost.
His availability not only means that he'll cost them nothing in the transfer market, but it also means that he can arrive outside the transfer window. Carvajal's representatives have provided Liverpool with the perfect opportunity to solve their right-back opportunity and now they must take it.
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Dani Carvajal career honours
Euros
Champions League
La Liga
UEFA Super Cup
UEFA Nations League
Spanish Super Cup
Intercontinental Cup
There will be some concerns about his age, but Carvajal wouldn't need to play every game. This is a luxury player with the experience of a serial winner who would prove his worth in the biggest moments.
In the meantime, Araujo could do exactly what he did against Ipswich. For Iraola, welcoming a Barcelona man and a Real Madrid legend to solve his problems would be an ideal scenario.
Dubbed "special" by former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa, Carvajal would be an excellent addition at Anfield.