Liverpool beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0, and boss Andoni Iraola praised Ronald Araujo after the match. Araujo joined Liverpool on a season-long loan from Barcelona in August.
Araujo's display against Brighton
Iraola told reporters after Liverpool’s win over Brighton: "It helps a lot . I think we all enjoyed watching Ronald fighting. I think he's very good in the duels."
He added: "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."
Iraola also said: "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."
Recent selection calls
Iraola said he had taken Araujo out at half-time in the last two games because Liverpool needed more offensive things.
Liverpool have the option to sign Araujo for €55 million when his loan deal expires next June.
Second-half defending
Iraola added: "especially in the second half. Second half obviously we defended lower, we didn't give so much space."
He said: "It was 50-50 in the first half. Both defences were quite high and then there was space in behind both defensive lines. Second half, I think we were more compact."
Iraola added: "But, it's a team that if you see stats and they cross a lot, so you have to do the basics very well, you have to clear the ball very well, you have to block shots very well, block crosses, win second balls. And I think overall our defenders have been good at doing the basics."