Has Liverpool's Loan Curse Been Broken? He Changed Anfield's View in Just Two Games

Liverpool's loan players have mostly failed to leave many positive memories in recent years, but Ronald Araújo needed only two matches to make Anfield believe in the word "loan" again.

From a "loan black hole" to "ready to use immediately"

Arthur Melo, Ozan Kabak, Steven Caulker, Javier Manquillo, Victor Moses, Aly Cissokho, Nuri Sahin and Emiliano Insua are names that have hardly left any memorable moments in Liverpool's loan history. The last time the club truly benefited from a temporary transfer was Javier Mascherano, who joined on loan from West Ham United in 2007 before making the move permanent a year later.

If Araújo continues playing the way he has started at Anfield, he could break this awkward trend that has lasted for years. The 27-year-old, who joined on a season-long loan from Barcelona, is responding to outside doubts in the most direct way.

Two starts, from Ipswich to Atlético Madrid

Liverpool did not buy a right-back this summer, which was a gamble in itself. Conor Bradley would need several more months to recover from a long-term knee injury, while new manager Andoni Iraola was expected to improve Jeremie Frimpong's inconsistent performances, so the club directed resources elsewhere.

When Frimpong showed problems in the first two Premier League matches against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, alarm bells immediately rang. Araújo's arrival reduced those concerns. In last Friday's away 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, he made his debut and left a strong impression; in Wednesday's tough Champions League match, a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid, his performance reached another level.

A centre-back by background, but he provided a key assist

Araújo's versatility and wealth of experience prompted Liverpool to act quickly in early August after learning that the La Liga champions were willing to let him leave. After Joe Gomez was injured in pre-season, along with continued absences for Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, the team needed to strengthen its defensive depth.

Araújo replacing Frimpong as the right-back starter in the past two matches has brought much-needed stability and composure to Iraola's defence. Iraola said after the match: "I think he played very well. The previous game against Ipswich was good, and tonight was even better. He was very good defensively, but sometimes because he is a centre-back, we underestimate his attacking ability. He delivered a beautiful assist for Dominik Szoboszlai."

Iraola's hope: to keep him

Iraola added: "He has delivered several very good passes in his position, and I am very satisfied with him. He came with the desire to prove that he belongs at this level, and I hope we can keep him there because he is in very good form right now."

From a loan black hole to providing an assist after two starts, Araújo is rewriting the unpleasant chapters of Liverpool's loan history in the simplest way possible.