Liverpool may be concerned about Ronald Araujo ahead of Anfield debut as injury reality explained
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Liverpool fans should see Ronald Araujo in action for the first time on Sunday as they face Como in a double-header at Anfield.The Uruguayan has had almost a full week to get to know his new teammates, and with Andoni Iraola desperately short of defensive options, it would be a surprise if he were not thrown in during the second of the two matches, in front of a full home crowd.The one wrinkle which could potentially be thrown up, is the status of Araujo‘s fitness. Though he proclaimed to be ready during his first interview as a Liverpool player, the 27-year-old has not played at all since May 23rd, and according to South American football expert Tim Vickery, Iraola is going to have to be extremely careful with Araujo.
Remember, the Reds have a buy option of around £47m… Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool Tim Vickery highlights Araujo’s fitness issuesOne of the reasons Liverpool badly needed to sign a new centre-back this summer was injury related.If the Reds knew they could rely on Joe Gomez staying fit, for example, they would likely have enough cover for the season. Not including his seven-match break for mental health reasons last season, 33 of those have come in the last two campaigns.READ MORE: Liverpool’s new minority investors could be about to appeal to fans and deliver the perfect startThat’s why, when speaking to TalkSPORT about the Uruguay international, Vickery chose to highlight his injuries as a big barrier against success with Liverpool.“I really, really like him.
He can be rash, but if you’re a front forward centre-back – he can play right-back as well – then a bit of rashness is to be expected,” he began.Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images“He’s a man-mountain, he’s extremely quick, unless a succession of injuries have just taken the edge off him a little bit. “He’s quick, he’s physically strong, he’s everything you want from a big centre-back, providing the coach can keep him fit and keep him focused.”Given the way things often seem to go for Liverpool on the fitness front – and due to the intense style of training Iraola has clearly introduced – it would be no surprise at all if Araujo ‘breaks down’ again early into his Reds career.While he will not be expected to play every game, any long spells on the sideline will make this gamble look like a spectacular failure.