100%: Liverpool well placed to complete Ronald Araujo deal, his stats are outstanding
Ronald Araujo enjoyed another superb performance for Liverpool as they beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday.
Alexander Isak scored after Florian Wirtz's strike had made its way in off Pascal Gross, earning a fourth consecutive win for the Reds across all competitions.
Andoni Iraola's team have hit a rich vein of form and will now hope to surpass a difficult week, with both Chelsea and Arsenal set to visit Anfield.
Araujo is on loan from Barcelona with an option to buy reportedly set at £47million - a fee that Liverpool will be happy to pay if he continues to deliver displays as he is currently doing.
The 27-year-old had been cast out in Spain after several high-profile mistakes, but looks to have been given a new lease of life at Anfield.
Deployed at right-back, the Uruguay international has quickly become a cult hero and a genuine difference-maker for Iraola.
Ronald Araujo thriving at Liverpool as stats emerge
Liverpool fans have fallen in love with Araujo and it is easy to see why - the defender puts his everything into every performance.
One moment against Brighton saw the right-back throw himself into a challenge inside the penalty box before putting his head where it would potentially hurt by heading the ball on the ground.
That very much summed up the 27-year-old's display against the Seagulls, who were constantly met with a dead end when they attempted to breach the right of Liverpool's defence.
Amid the defensive grit, there was plenty of technical quality from Araujo, who made a successful dribble and completed 10 passes into the final third and 10 line-breaking passes.
Yet it was his determination to defend that earned him the plaudits. The Uruguay international made three tackles, eight clearances, six recoveries and was not dribbled past once.
Araujo won 100 per cent of the five duels he contested, the most won of any player on the pitch to have remained faultless.
Andoni Iraola hails Ronald Araujo
Liverpool will be in no rush to sign Araujo permanently, although there would be little complaint if the trigger was pulled tomorrow.
The defender is already a fan favourite at Anfield and appears a natural in the Liverpool red.
"It helps a lot [to have Ronald]," said Iraola after Sunday's game. "I think we all enjoyed watching Ronald fighting. I think he's very good in the duels.
"Even the first goal, I think he wins two duels in a row, he arrives at the byline and after, it's not an assist, but it's worth an assist. And defensively, I think he's been really, really really good.
"I'm happy for him because I've taken him out in the last two games, because we needed more offensive things, at half-time and he has continued working with no issues and today we needed him more. He has given a very, very good 90 minutes."