Ronald Araújo Makes First Liverpool Start, Fills In At Right Back Against Ipswich Town

The moment Liverpool's starting eleven went up, any Uruguayan fan could tell something was different. Ronald Araújo made his first start in a Reds shirt away to Ipswich Town in Premier League matchday three, and he did it in a spot far from his usual one: right back.

Manager Andoni Iraola, the Basque coach in charge of the club, opted for a back four featuring Jérémy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk and Miloš Kerkez, handing Araújo the entire right flank. That's no small thing for a player who has spent his whole career as a center back, but the Uruguayan answered with a performance that put everyone at ease.

The Uruguayan, who joined Anfield on loan from Barcelona, played the full 90 minutes and turned in one of those showings that's better appreciated through the stats than the scoreline itself. Eight defensive contributions, seven interceptions and a ball recovery paint the picture of a player who was on top of every fifty-fifty ball. In individual duels, he won three of his four ground battles and claimed all six aerial duels he contested, a reminder of why Barcelona developed him as a center back.

But it wasn't all defending. Araújo also had a hand in building play, completing 84 percent of his passes (32 of 38), and pushed forward down his flank for two crosses into the box. Neither led to a goal or a teammate's shot, but both showed good intent and direction, a promising sign for a player just getting used to the position.

From substitute to undisputed man of the match

This starting debut came only in Araújo's third appearance for Liverpool. Before this, he'd come off the bench against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, in what looked like a logical adjustment period for a player who has switched leagues, clubs and, in this specific case, even his position on the field.

The picture he painted at Portman Road, solid at the back, composed on the ball and eager to contribute going forward, suggests Iraola has found another option to rotate in defense. It remains to be seen whether the Uruguayan keeps his spot at right back or eventually returns to his natural role in central defense alongside Van Dijk.