John Aldridge reflects on Liverpool's win over Brighton and Ronald Araujo's impressive form in the first half of his weekly column

Beating Brighton is a really good result for Liverpool. They’ve sent out a statement. We've all been talking about Brighton in the manner in which we have because they've been excellent this year.

They beat Arsenal, they battered Arsenal. They’re a good team and the manager looks good. It was refreshing because they came to Anfield with an intent to win.

It was so refreshing, because I was sick of football last year, in quite a few years really, because teams do the same thing, play the same, the pattern of play and spoiling the game.

It's like watching the same old game, unless it's in Europe, which is different. And Brighton were good.

I don’t agree with their manager’s claim that they were the only team trying to create chances and win the game, but they were good. They missed a couple of really good chances.

But we took ours. It could have gone either way to be quite honest, but Liverpool did enough to get the win.

Liverpool have to sign Araujo

What you see is what you get with Ronald Araujo. He's a throwback to a 70s or 80s player. That's what he is.

I love the way he put his head on the ball in front of the Kop. I saw it and went, ‘Wow!’ Not many people in this day and age would do anything like that for fear of getting stamped on the head.

That shows you that he's an old-fashioned type of player. And the crowd take to that, full-blooded, when you get stuck in.

Sometimes you see a player skip out of a challenge or not go fully in on a challenge. But that's all the fans demand, first and foremost. And then if you're a good player after that.

You can get a boxer playing there who would put his head in like that, but you've got to be a good player at the same time.

That's what they demand. The fans love it. Don’t duck out of a 50/50 challenge at Anfield. If you get stuck right in… remember Conor Bradley on Kylian Mbappe, Daniel Agger on Fernando Torres, Jon Flanagan on Raheem Sterling, and some of our players against Lionel Messi too.

Look at James Milner in his time with us and see how the crowd responded. They love it. And the team thrives off that.

I know players don't want to get injured, but that's all the fans want. And when you're a good player on top, it's happy days.

And Araujo’s no mug. You don't play for Barcelona and captain them if you're not a really good player. And he's playing out of position and he and he's doing a great job.

It’s a no-brainer to sign Araujo permanently now. We're going to lose Virgil soon and he's captain material, he's a leader. It's a no-brainer.

They've had him on loan, on a trial basis. But the trial’s over already! If he doesn't get injured, he’s going to be a really good player for us in the next three or four years.

He's 27, he’s a good age. So, whenever they can trigger that clause, get it done.

Rosy in attack

Florian Wirtz is playing his way into form. He looked like he lacked a little bit of confidence and belief in himself earlier in the season. But it’s slowly starting to click for him now.

Bradley Barcola is starting to fit in too. It's not easy. I went abroad and you’ve got to settle in. It does take people some time.

But he scored his hat-trick and he's making goals. It looks like he’s settling in well. He's a good player and he’s getting more belief. He's quick and he’s an option to play on both sides.

Look at the attacking players that we’ve got. Rio Ngumoha, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak - who has got to stay fit - and Victor Munoz.

They will all gel more. They’ll all get to know each other better, the movements off each other and getting to read each other's minds. They’re blossoming partnerships. It’s quite good in that quarter.

Then you get Hugo Ekitike back and all of a sudden it's rosy up top. You’ve got options. Long may it continue.