Araujo’s influence at Liverpool grows as defender reaches 36.3km/h in Premier League

Ronald Araujo’s growing importance to Liverpool was underlined against Brighton, where the Uruguay defender was named player of the match and set the fastest speed recorded in the Premier League this season.

Araujo reached 36.3km/h, according to Sport, citing the Winna platform. The figure matches the top speed recorded by the fastest players in La Liga during the 2026-2027 season, including Kylian Mbappe, Andrei Ratiu, Kike Femenia, Facundo Buonanotte and Alejandro Catena.

The defender, who is on loan from Barcelona, has quickly established himself as one of Andoni Iraola’s key players. His performances have also made him a popular figure among Liverpool supporters, with his commitment in the match against Brighton earning a particularly strong response from the Anfield crowd.

One moment stood out. Araujo raced back at full speed to prevent a dangerous Brighton attack, throwing himself to the ground and using his head in an attempt to clear the ball. The effort was applauded by the supporters and later circulated widely on social media.

His defensive statistics further illustrated his contribution. Araujo won all five of his attempted duels at Anfield, giving him a 100% success rate. He also ranked second behind captain Virgil van Dijk for defensive contributions, recording 11.

Iraola praised the defender’s approach after the match.

“He gives the team a lot. I think we all enjoy watching Ronald fight on the pitch,” said the Liverpool manager.

“He is very good in duels. Even for the first goal, I think he won two challenges in a row and reached the byline. His pass was not an assist, but it could have been.”

The player-of-the-match award added another achievement to Araujo’s first season with Liverpool. He became the first player in the team to win the honour more than once during the current campaign.

Araujo’s speed record, combined with his defensive work and visible determination, has strengthened his standing with supporters only weeks after arriving at the club. His display against Brighton offered another example of why he has become a regular presence in Iraola’s side.