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Liverpool may have accidentally caught up to rivals with Ronald Araujo decision

In playing Ronald Araujo at right-back, Liverpool may have stumbled on a solution to their defensive problems that other Premier League clubs have also adopted.

Liverpool’s improvement at the back is down to far more than one player: Jeremy Jacquet has slotted in superbly, Alisson is back to his best and the forwards are working harder.

Perhaps the biggest catalyst, though, for Liverpool’s three consecutive clean sheets in the league, has been Araujo’s introduction at right-back.

Signed on loan from Barcelona, he was initially viewed as someone who could fill in at centre-half or right-back while Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez rebuilt their fitness.

Now, after five starts in a row, Araujo is one of the first names on the team sheet and has unknowingly brought Liverpool closer in line with how their rivals are approaching the Premier League.

A fresh start following a fading Barcelona career

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's Ronald Araújo during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It came very much out of the blue when Liverpool recruited Araujo as their auxiliary defender for the year ahead; it felt like one of those whereby you’re pondering, ‘Why did nobody else think of signing him?’

For all the talk of opportunistic signings in the last couple of years, very few have come off. Araujo already looks to be bucking the trend.

It seems strange to be able to take the captain of Barcelona on loan with an option to buy for under £50 million, but circumstances had left the Uruguayan out of favour at the Nou Camp.

A favourite when Xavi was manager, the appointment of Hansi Flick meant he didn’t quite suit the new coach’s style.

Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona (Image: PRESSINPHOTO SPORTS AGENCY/Alamy Live News)

Despite that, he still made 38 appearances last season, after which Flick explained why Araujo was leaving: “He is a very good person and an exceptional player, but our style of play is slightly different.

“He is a footballer with great speed and power, and he is good with the ball at his feet too. I wanted to get him involved.

“I think he is eager to try new things and I believe he has also been affected by what happened in the past.”

What happened in the past was a series of high-profile mistakes, a red card against PSG in the 2024 Champions League quarter-finals being the most prominent example.

“I think he needed this kind of change. He has come with a humility.”

Andoni Iraola

Andoni Iraola has been very pleased with the early signs shown by Ronald Araujo.

Looking for a fresh start at 27 years old, Araujo has cut a mature figure at Liverpool and seems to have ironed out some of the rash decision-making that previously hampered him.

The Uruguayan took a pay cut to sign for the Reds and he looks hungry. With an aggressive but seasoned approach, Araujo is buying into the club’s demands.

Liverpool have stumbled on a Premier League trend

KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 8, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a training session at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atlético Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Having come off the bench in Liverpool’s first two matches of the season, which were 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, Araujo has started every match since.

All but one of those appearances have come at right-back – the one being Liverpool’s win vs. Tottenham.

Liverpool are yet to concede with him at full-back and, in the Reds’ last three league games, they have conceded fewer expected goals than anyone else in the division.

Araujo isn’t solely responsible of course; Andoni Iraola would be quick to interject that defending is a team effort that starts from the front.

However, it would be hard to argue against the notion that replacing Jeremie Frimpong with the more conservative Araujo has been one of the key elements of the coach building a more better defensive unit.

CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz celebrates with team-mate Jeremie Frimpong (L) after scoring his side's second goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by Amanda McMaster/Propaganda)

In making the change from Frimpong to Araujo, Liverpool may have stumbled on a solution that other clubs are already using to combat the incredible quality of the Premier League.

Arsenal were the best team in the country last season. They have two full-backs who were thought to be central defenders by trade, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.

Man City, too, have a player generally deemed a centre-back playing as a full-back, Josko Gvardiol.

Aston Villa, arguably the Premier League’s third-best strongest outfit last year, have Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back, another whose forte is keeping the opposition out.

In an increasingly physical division, the days of Jurgen Klopp’s flying full-backs have faded. Instead, teams are keeping at least three defenders in place – in Arsenal’s case, often four.

Mikel Arteta

Among the criticisms of Liverpool has been the ease with which teams have outrun and outfought them. Opposing sides have been stronger than the Reds.

Frimpong is by no means on alone in his faults, but if Liverpool’s right-back is 5’7″, he has to be excellent going forward. We haven’t seen that from the Dutchman, leaving Iraola better off consolidating the defence.

What Ronald Araujo brings at right-back

With the Reds in possession, Araujo, Van Dijk and Jacquet tend to form a back three, allowing Milos Kerkez to push on and support the attack.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Ronald Araújo takes a throw in during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

This slightly reduces the impact of Liverpool being without a natural No. 6, as the most central defender can play combatively and try to prevent the ball reaching the opposition’s striker.

Araujo has won 5.68 aerial duels per 90 (72 percent) in the league this season. Whereas Frimpong was being targeted, Liverpool’s right side of defence is now a strength, especially with Jacquet in form to Araujo’s left.

The ex-Barcelona defender’s presence in the air should be a big help in the long term. If Liverpool are pressing correctly, it should force the opposition into long, stray balls upfield.

That’s where Araujo, Jacquet and Van Dijk can thrive, winning it back with aggression and setting the Reds away again.

Despite his promising start, however, playing Araujo at right-back might not be the solution forever.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's new signing Ronald Araújo during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

After all, he is very limited going forward and did nothing to contribute from wide positions when Liverpool struggled to break down Fulham.

Nevertheless, while Iraola is still working to better connect his frontline, keeping clean sheets allows the attackers to have an off-day without it meaning the Reds are constantly losing.

Last season, Liverpool would have lost at Bournemouth – in fact, they did (3-2). On some days Alexander Isak won’t score that vital goal; on others he will.

Liverpool need to pick up points while continuing to develop under Iraola, and for the moment, playing Araujo at right-back helps them do that.

As for whether the club pay his £47.1m release clause next summer, that could come down to how the shape of the team evolves when Conor Bradley returns.

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