Ronald Araújo shines in first Premier League start with 9 duels won

Ronald Araújo picked a good time to remind everyone why Barcelona valued him so highly. The Uruguayan center-back, deployed at right-back for Liverpool against Ipswich Town, turned in a defensive masterclass on his first Premier League start: 9 duels won at a 90% success rate, a perfect 6-for-6 in aerial battles, and 7 clearances that tied for the match lead. Liverpool won 2-0, and for the first time in 10 matches, they kept a clean sheet. A debut worth the wait Araújo had been on Liverpool’s books since August 10, 2026, arriving on a season-long loan from Barcelona with a reported €55 million option to buy. Before the Ipswich fixture, the 27-year-old had logged just 35 minutes across two substitute appearances this season. The Ipswich match, played on September 4, 2026, finally provided the right moment. Playing the full 90 minutes at right-back, he was the most dominant defensive presence on the pitch. According to Opta, he led the match in duels won and aerial duels won, while his 7 clearances were the joint-most recorded by any player in the game. Why Liverpool needed this Liverpool had gone nine consecutive matches without keeping a clean sheet before Araújo’s full debut. Addi...