Not just Isak and Gakpo: Liverpool colossus who won 9 duels was ‘vital’ to Iraola’s first win
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Andoni Iraola has his first win as Liverpool head coach after two goals in the opening 10 minutes from Alexander Isak ensured a 2-0 victory away to Ipswich on Friday night.The Swede’s early double ultimately proved to be the difference between the teams, and there’ll be plenty of praise for Cody Gakpo too for supplying both assists, having also set up the 26-year-old to score against Nottingham Forest last weekend.The Reds’ number 9 will inevitably hog the headlines, but one man at the other end of the pitch made an understated yet vital contribution to tonight’s result.Araujo justified his selection for LiverpoolThe one change to the starting XI from the Forest game saw Ronald Araujo come in for Jeremie Frimpong at right-back, and the Uruguay defender ultimately vindicated Iraola’s decision to start him.Liverpool’s number 33 made a crucial interception to deny Ipswich a tap-in and also won a number of duels and challenges to help the Reds achieve a first clean sheet since beating Fulham 2-0 at Anfield in April.(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)There were a couple of iffy moments from the 27-year-old tonight, including one sliced clearance to concede a corner kick and a delayed throw-in which, under new rules, saw the set piece reversed to the home side.However, as the figures below from Sofascore illustrate, Araujo was colossal in his defending for Iraola’s team, along with pulling off a couple of mazy dribbles of which an elite attacker would be proud. Passes completed 32/38 (84% success) Duels won 9/10 Clearances 7 Dribbles completed 2/3 Araujo was rock solid for LiverpoolThe head coach rolled the dice by axing the under-fire Frimpong in favour of the Uruguayan, and the latter repaid that faith with a powerful performance which elicited praise from Theo Squires in his post-match player ratings for the Liverpool Echo.Awarding the defender eight out of 10, the reporter wrote: ‘A full debut for the Uruguayan, but stationed at right-back.
Liverpool looked more solid defensively for having him there as he won a number of aerial duels. Denied Ipswich a tap-in with one vital clearance.
Decisive in the Reds keeping a clean sheet with a number of big blocks and interceptions late on.’Araujo now has every chance of keeping his place for the Reds’ first Champions League match of the season at home to Atletico Madrid next Wednesday. More of the same in that fixture would do very nicely, indeed!