REUTERS/Phil Noble
It was far from pretty and it wasn't entirely convincing, but if the Premier League proved anything last weekend, it is that trips to the likes of Bournemouth rarely are. All that mattered for Liverpool ahead of a lengthy international break was another goal for Alexander Isak and another win for Andoni Iraola.
For all the doubts about how the Reds have started the season, they're still unbeaten after five games and have just kept three-straight clean sheets for the first time in the Premier League since the start of Arne Slot's tenure.
Reuters/Paul Childs
Ask anyone around Anfield and they won't act surprised that the defensive improvement has arrived at the exact same time that Iraola decided to drop the struggling Jeremie Frimpong.
Why Iraola must end Jeremie Frimpong's Liverpool career ASAP
The more time that has passed, the more Frimpong's arrival has looked baffling. Liverpool needed a right-back, and not just anyone.
To replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, they needed a technician who could invert whilst acting as one of the biggest creators in their side. And if that wasn't possible, then the plan had to be to welcome an expert defender - something Alexander-Arnold never was.
Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold
Frimpong is neither of those things. For starters, Richard Hughes should have known that Frimpong is not a right-back before even taking an extensive look at the data.
In fact, the Dutchman has always been a specialised player who would be one of the first calls for any manager using a back five. Simply put, he is a wing-back and not a full-back or, indeed, a winger. So it doesn't take much to work out where things have gone wrong at Liverpool, who do not use a back five.
Frimpong is not someone who has been able to adapt, either. When asked to play full-back, he has been an undeniable weakness - a target for opposition teams, who have taken advantage of his 46.2% duel success.
When asked to play as a winger, the Dutchman isn't creative enough, certainly not strong enough and certainly not clinical enough.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Liverpool have single-handedly discovered the answer regarding what happens when you ask a wing-back to play elsewhere.
They have a player who's not good enough one-on-one to be a winger and not good enough or strong enough to be a fullback. In short, they had a problem that Iraola has had to solve by turning towards a £47m star.
How Liverpool are solving their right-back problem
For some, it takes a while to catch on to trends. There are people out there still clinging onto their shell suits and not for the sake of fancy dress.
Liverpool have watched on as every other top side in the Premier League swapped their shell suits for denim, their struggling full-backs for converted centre-backs, before finally catching on under Iraola.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
There was a lot of discourse about the arrival of Ronald Araujo. Plenty of it negative. Barcelona fans were celebrating the defender's exit a tad too much for the liking of Liverpool fans. He who laughs last laughs loudest, however, and the Uruguay international is certainly in a position to mock his doubters right now.
He has solved the Reds' right-back problem in unexpected fashion, keeping three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League since taking the role and even grabbing an assist in the Champions League. He has been everything that Frimpong hasn't since his arrival.
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Premier League 26/27 P90 Araujo Frimpong
Minutes 285 179
Tackles 1.58 2.01
Recoveries 4.74 3.52
Duel success 66.7% 46.2%
Dribbled past 0.32 1.51
The numbers are damning for Frimpong. His one-on-one defending particularly stands out, as does his duel success. Liverpool's full-backs simply cannot be beaten 1.5 times a game, especially when pressing high under Iraola.
REUTERS/David Klein
Araujo has brought unexpected composure and wins well over half his duels. Next to Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jaquet, there is finally a backbone beginning to return at Liverpool, even if everything is yet to fully click under Iraola.
If Araujo's form continues, then Liverpool should not hesitate to trigger their £47m option to buy the Barcelona man on a permanent basis next summer.
At the moment, that deal is looking like a masterclass. Continue to deliver like this and his valuation will increase beyond that. The Reds will have secured a proper bargain.
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