Ronald Araujo has spoken out about his viral sliding head tackle in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton
Ronald Araujo has revealed all on his viral sliding head tackle in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
The Reds were already protecting a two-goal lead when the Uruguayan threw his body on the line more than once in a bid to preserve Andoni Iraola’s side’s clean sheet.
After Jeremy Jacquet had blocked Charalampos Kostoulas’s close-range effort, Araujo twice slid in in an attempt to deny first Pascal Gross and then Maxim De Cuyper.
He would then win the ball at the third time of trying after dispossessing De Cuyper while on the floor with a sliding challenge using his head, earning loud cheers across the stadium as a result.
Looking back on the challenge, Araujo insisted he is prepared to do whatever is necessary to help his team - even if it means tackling opponents with his head.
"Ultimately, it was just a solution,” he said. “I'd thrown myself on the ground and I used my head.
"I'm very passionate and that's how I live football – I've been that way always. I experience football this way and it was just a solution.
"Whatever I need to do to help the team, I need to be prepared to do it. Given I'd gone to ground and the ball was there, I used my head and got a touch on the ball.
"It was brilliant but that's part of my job, my style and I'll always give everything."
Araujo has been in impressive form since breaking into the Liverpool starting XI at the start of September, with the defender playing a decisive role in the Reds putting together a five-game winning run in recent weeks.
That streak will face its sternest test yet against reigning Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday.
But the Barcelona loanee insists he has full faith in his team-mates as Liverpool look to keep on building under new head coach Iraola.
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"There's no doubt we're in a good moment," he told the club website. "Personally, I'm convinced about the team that we have.
"Perhaps we didn't get the best of starts but, given the team that we have and the work and the philosophy the manager has for us, I was convinced that the team would continue to grow.
"We're in that development phase and it's great because that means that there is still room for improvement.
"So, we know we can give a lot more and we're working very hard to do that. It's a lovely moment but we have to keep going – we can't be satisfied.
"Now we have a really big challenge in front of us this weekend against a big rival, but we're playing at home with our fans and we'll give everything to get that victory.
"It's a tough game. We're going to be playing against the Premier League champions, Champions League finalists, a team that has been put together over many years.
"But we also have our own weapons. It will be fantastic. It's a fantastic challenge and I'm sure that, with hard work and the effort we're going to put in, we can bring joy to our fans."
