Ronald Araujo has managed to change some opinions on his signing at Liverpool, with one pundit even going as far as to offer an apology live on air after his goal against Villarreal

Troy Deeney has admitted he was wrong about Ronald Araujo, and has issued an on-air apology to the on-loan Liverpool defender following his goal against Villarreal.

The Uruguayan levelled things up before half-time after the Reds had fallen to a surprise 2-0 deficit at Anfield on Tuesday. Having headed in Rio Ngumoha’s cross, Araujo was subsequently substituted at half-time, with Liverpool going on to win 4-3 thanks to further goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz.

Nevertheless, Araujo has been praised for his performance, and for the manner in which he has settled in on Merseyside after eyebrows were raised by his arrival from Barcelona.

Having fallen out of favor at the Camp Nou, Araujo made the temporary move to Liverpool during the summer as Andoni Iraola’s side struggled with injuries in defense.

The transfer was criticized by some, but Araujo has gone on to establish himself as Iraola’s go-to right-back so far this season, and his performances have led to Deeney making a U-turn while speaking on CBS Sports.

“I have to give him credit, and I also have to pull myself up because I like to consider myself a fair individual,” the former Watford striker said after Liverpool’s win over Villarreal.

“At the start of the season, when they signed him, I thought it was a desperate signing. I’d seen him at Barcelona, and again, he’s very aggressive, very front-footed, I didn’t know whether his style of play would adjust to what Liverpool are trying to do.

“But since he’s been in at right-back, he has been amazing. Him and [Jeremy] Jacquet, they’ve been the best two players, by far.

“He’s so big, strong, powerful, understanding of the game, he reads it really well, obviously offers them playing at right-back but also can play at center-half when needed. I’ve been really, really impressed.

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“He gives a calming influence which is really strange. Anyone who watched Barcelona last year, he didn’t give that because of the way Barcelona were playing, and obviously you can only judge based on what you’ve seen.

“So yeah, I owe him an apology. Very, very good, very impressive so far this season.”

Araujo’s withdrawal at half-time did raise some concerns over his fitness, with Liverpool’s options at right-back already limited through injuries to Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, as well as Dominik Szoboszlai as a potential back-up.

Iraola though revealed the decision was tactical, explaining: “Ronald was feeling uncomfortable following all the way.

“At the end, we thought that a player like Ryan Gravenberch could do both jobs – defensively following inside, even I think he’s good enough outside to sustain the one-v-ones.

“And also offensively could be a better help, for Rio, attacking down the right side.”