Andoni Iraola says Ronald Araujo “needed” to join Liverpool on loan from Barcelona – and the Reds boss has identified one area he wants the defender to improve after his impressive start to his season-long spell at Anfield.
Uruguay international Araujo has been at Barca since 2018 but made a surprise switch to Liverpool on August 10 and has started their last four games in all competitions, comprising three wins, a draw and a total of two goals conceded.
“We knew each other because we played against each other, but not personally,” reflected Iraola, adding that the 27-year-old has adapted well to the physical demands of sometimes being asked to move from centre-back to right-back.
“Sometimes you talk to a player and you can feel it straight away: everything was positive. He needed this kind of change. He has come with humility from a big club.
“He’s probably played more minutes than we expected so early in the season. He’s finishing games in a good place and not cramping. I like his spirit.”
Ronald Araujo: How Liverpool loanee could improve
Each of the Liverpool defences Araujo has been a part of have featured four players of different nationalities and Iraola believes the three-time Liga winner would be even more effective if he spoke English.
“Now I’m pushing him to learn the language,” explained Iraola. “A good way for us to use his experience is if he could communicate better with teammates and use all of the experience he has. I suppose it will take time.”
Araujo is likely to feature again when Liverpool seek successive league away wins by visiting Iraola’s former club, Bournemouth, on Sunday.
Liverpool have won one and drawn three of their first four top-flight matches of the season, while Marco Rose’s Cherries, who qualified for Europe for the first time in their history by reaching the Europa League under Iraola last season, are on three points.
“It’s going to be a tricky one because they obviously know very well what we try to do, on the ball and without the ball,” said the Spaniard.
“I also have this advantage – I know their strengths, their weaknesses. It’s going to be strange for me. I don’t know if it’s a big advantage or a disadvantage, but it’s going to be different.”
Where to watch Bournemouth vs Liverpool: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Sunday is at 14:00 BST (09:00 ET / 06:00 PT). Live TV coverage in the UK is on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £27.99 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Here’s the full list of Premier League international broadcasters.
“I don’t think they’ve changed too much – definitely not in terms of names,” Iraola added of Bournemouth, who won 2-1 at Real Sociedad on their European debut on Thursday.
“You see mostly the same starting 11, with very few changes. Basically, they lost [defender] Marcos Senesi [to Tottenham] and they’ve signed [Antonio] Silva [from Benfica], who is a very similar kind of player.
“The main ideas, the philosophy… I was lucky also to talk to Marco Rose before leaving. He hasn’t changed too much – they continue to be very dangerous and very good team.”
Premier League fixtures this weekend
| Date | Fixture | BST start time | ET | PT |
| Fri, Sept 18 | Brentford vs Chelsea | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 |
| Sat, Sept 19 | Spurs vs Villa | 12:30 | 07:30 | 04:30 |
| Sat, Sept 19 | Everton vs Ipswich | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 |
| Sat, Sept 19 | Brighton vs Arsenal | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 |
| Sat, Sept 19 | Newcastle vs Hull | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 |
| Sat, Sept 19 | Forest vs Coventry | 17:30 | 12:30 | 09:30 |
| Sun, Sept 20 | Bournemouth vs Liverpool | 14:00 | 09:00 | 06:00 |
| Sun, Sept 20 | Man City vs Sunderland | 14:00 | 09:00 | 06:00 |
| Sun, Sept 20 | Leeds vs Crystal Palace | 14:00 | 09:00 | 06:00 |
| Sun, Sept 20 | Fulham vs Man United | 16:30 | 11:30 | 08:30 |
Full Premier League table
Premier League 2026
England
| # | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Last 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arsenal |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
W
W
W
W
|
| 2 |
Manchester City |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
W
W
W
W
|
| 3 |
Leeds |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
W
D
D
W
|
| 4 |
Hull City |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
D
D
W
W
|
| 5 |
Brighton |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
W
D
L
W
|
| 6 |
Chelsea |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
D
L
W
W
|
| 7 |
Brentford |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
D
D
D
W
|
| 8 |
Liverpool |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
D
W
D
D
|
| 9 |
Everton |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
D
D
D
W
|
| 10 |
Ipswich |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 6 |
W
L
L
W
|
| 11 |
Nottingham Forest |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
W
D
D
L
|
| 12 |
Newcastle |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 5 |
L
D
W
D
|
| 13 |
Manchester United |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
L
D
W
L
|
| 14 |
Sunderland |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 4 |
L
D
W
L
|
| 15 |
Bournemouth |
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 3 |
D
D
D
L
|
| 16 |
Crystal Palace |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 3 |
L
W
L
L
|
| 17 |
Tottenham |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 2 |
D
D
L
L
|
| 18 |
Fulham |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 1 |
D
L
L
L
|
| 19 |
Aston Villa |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 1 |
L
D
L
L
|
| 20 |
Coventry |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 0 |
L
L
L
L
|
- Position 1, 2, 3, 4 : Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
- Position 5 : Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
- Position 18, 19, 20 : Relegation – Championship
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