Despite what seems a sensible loan signing and football returning to Anfield there remains concerns for Liverpool ahead of the new season…
Football, actual football, being played at Anfield.
A signing, an actual signing, arriving at Anfield. Possibly.
It’s progress whatever way you look at it.
I’m always a bit sceptical about loan deals. There’s always a sense of desperation to them or an uncomfortable feeling of short-termism, and it’s rare that they are an unequivocal success. For every Javier Mascherano (starter in ‘the best midfield in the world’) there are dozens of Arthur Melos (19 minutes of first-team action).
However, this is where we are and if Ronald Araujo needs a bit of a reset and shows his obvious ability (the man loves a shoulder charge), then this could be the ideal home for him. We love a bit of redemption here.
Like most people, I only know about him from his showreel and a shaky remembrance of his unfortunate games against Chelsea and PSG, but the biggest takeaway is that he’s a player who has captained Barcelona and starts Champions League games for them. The big stage should hold no fears.
The downside? Well, there must be some or Barca wouldn’t be releasing him.
There’ll be no immediate fitness. He’s only played three 90-minute games (one of them a friendly against England) since the turn of the year and though he went to the World Cup with Uruguay, he didn’t feature once due to a calf injury. He’s not expected to make his debut at St James’ Park.
As for his ability, he clearly has talent. Vinicius Jr said he was the hardest defender he faced a while ago, but there is, or was, an issue with his distribution. He likes an awful lot of time on the ball before passing it and might find the Premier League a bit Wild West for his taste.
It’s no secret that PSG deliberately pressed him more than any other player when they played Barca in 2024. In a documentary before the game, Luis Enrique is seen telling his players:
“He is the player with the most problems. Every time the ball gets to Araujo…when the ball comes in motion, cover the passing line and go.”
It worked too. Ronald had a nightmare, particularly against some lad called Barcola.
But that was then. He’s taken time away from the game to get his head right and starts with a blank canvas here. He’s with us now.
He can also play right-back which doubles his chances of a start. This is good news.
But the worries are still there. We’re still so light around the pitch.
It was great to see the kids do well in the States and against Monaco, but though Isak and Wirtz have shone in the last couple of games, we’re only one injury away from Gakpo as the ‘9’. Furthermore, we still don’t have a nailed-on starter for the right-sided forward.
It’s difficult not to be concerned at the lack of movement in the market. I can’t help but wonder if there’s a strategy in place here. Have the club’s hierarchy already written off the idea of a full, strong squad, capable of challenging for major honours this year? Choosing instead to wait for value to return rather than pay inflated prices?
Look at Tottenham. They’ve spent big on Tonali, Van Hecke and Fernandes, as well as adding a couple of canny frees in Senesi from Bournemouth and our own Robbo. There is still movement out there. Liverpool have just refused to dip their toe by either ill-luck or design.
I suppose there’s an argument that we already have the concert pianists in Wirtz, Ekitike (when he’s fit) and Isak, but you’d think it’s easier to recruit players to carry the piano. That’s a different market altogether.
But Araujo is a start. It came out of the blue, unforeseen by the usual patch reporters, and that too might mean there’ll be more bodies to come. Maybe there are five more players looking for their passports as we speak.
Loan deals seldom provide long-term solutions, but this one is welcomed at this late stage. I hope we can add a few more and I hope the owners aren’t just trying to be over-clever again. You can’t write off seasons here.
