Ronald Araújo Gives Liverpool Major Right-Back Decision After Ipswich Display

Liverpool’s first Premier League victory under Andoni Iraola provided the obvious headlines through Alexander Isak’s two goals, but another performance at Portman Road may have given the new head coach an unexpected solution.

Ronald Araújo started at right-back in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town, replacing Jeremie Frimpong, and delivered an assured defensive display as the Reds recorded their first clean sheet of the campaign. Liverpool’s official match report confirmed it was Araújo’s first start since joining the club on loan.

Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, David Lynch admitted Araújo’s effectiveness in the position surprised him.

The question now is obvious. Has Araújo done enough to stay there?

Ronald Araújo Impresses at Right-Back

Davis highlighted the numbers behind Araújo’s performance, including nine duels won from 10, six aerial duels won from six and seven clearances.

Those figures were also reflected in external post-match analysis, which recorded Araújo winning more duels and aerial duels than any Liverpool player.

Lynch admitted he had expected Dominik Szoboszlai to be deployed at right-back following Iraola’s previous comments.

Araújo represented a different solution.

“He’s clearly that hybrid defender, he’s played at right-back before so it’s not completely new to him.”

There had still been doubts over how naturally the Uruguayan would adapt.

“I had a little bit of a worry about him playing at full-back because he’s a big lad, isn’t he, and he doesn’t look the most mobile.”

Lynch quickly saw those concerns eased.

“He’s not rapid off the mark but he’s not slow either and once he gets going, he’s definitely quick.”

Defensive Authority Changes Liverpool Dynamic

Araújo’s opening moments were not perfect, something Lynch acknowledged, but his response impressed the journalist.

“He looked incredibly comfortable, I thought, over the 90 minutes.”

After what Lynch described as “a bit of a ropey start”, his assessment became emphatic.

“He was absolutely brilliant after that, I thought.”

Araújo’s aerial ability particularly stood out.

“He seems very hard to, well, impossible to beat in the air.”

More encouragingly for Liverpool, Lynch felt that physical authority translated comfortably into English football.

“Bringing that to the Premier League is extremely encouraging because that’s a big difference.”

Araújo was equally effective when Ipswich attempted to threaten Liverpool along the ground, repeatedly positioning himself to intervene before dangerous situations developed.

Lynch said: “How many times was he in the right place to kind of cut out a cross or, you know, just got there to stop someone at a moment where you thought Liverpool might be in a bit of trouble?”

His conclusion was straightforward.

“I just thought he put in a brilliant performance.”

Jeremie Frimpong Faces Liverpool Selection Battle

Perhaps the most significant part of Lynch’s analysis concerned what Araújo’s emergence means for Liverpool’s other options.

He described the defender as “very solid on the ball” and suggested Araújo “seemed to just bring balance to the team”.

Crucially, Lynch added: “I think he’s given the manager a decision to make.”

That decision involves Frimpong.

Liverpool’s right-back situation had increasingly become an area of concern, but Araújo’s performance altered the conversation considerably.

Lynch explained: “Araújo plays there and suddenly you’re like, well, Frimpong doesn’t necessarily have to play many games there.”

With Conor Bradley also expected back and Joe Gomez another option, Lynch believes Liverpool’s depth suddenly appears healthier.

“Suddenly it’s starting to look a little bit stronger at right-back as well.”

Iraola May Have Found His Liverpool Solution

This is where Iraola enters the discussion.

Lynch described the Liverpool head coach as a “renowned problem solver”, highlighting the value of finding answers within the existing squad.

“If you can start to solve these problems internally it just makes the squad look stronger.”

Araújo may represent precisely that kind of solution.

“I think he’s found a solution there with Araújo at right-back that we hope is sustainable.”

One excellent performance does not guarantee that the position belongs to him permanently. Iraola himself indicated after the game that Liverpool could use Araújo or Frimpong depending upon the demands of individual matches.

Yet Araújo has certainly changed the conversation.

Lynch summed it up: “For a first performance there I thought he was really, really good and, you know, bit of a surprise for me just how good he was there and I really hope he can keep it up.”

For Iraola, that is a welcome selection problem.