Liverpool Confidential: Insiders reveal Ronald Araujo's desire to stay at Anfield permanently and why he's already loving life on Merseyside, boost for 'next Gerrard' in Reds' academy and decision time for Virgil van Dijk

Ronald Araujo is loving life in England and can already picture himself staying at Liverpool beyond his loan spell.

The Uruguay international has only started two matches since joining the club on a season-long loan from Barcelona but has already become something of a cult hero with two stellar performances, one ending in him being named man of the match against Atletico Madrid.

Fans online and at Anfield have been waxing lyrical about the new defender, who showed his South American skills with a fancy backheel assist for Dominik Szoboszlai against Atletico. It appears the feeling is mutual.

Sources have told Liverpool Confidential that Araujo is loving playing for Liverpool and has been on several walks around the city, where he has got a feel for the place.

He has noticed that everyone on Merseyside lives and breathes football in a way that is different even to Barcelona, and he believes there is a real smell of success around the place. This, above everything else, is something the player loves.

It is far too early to say whether Liverpool and Araujo will make the loan move permanent but it is understood there is a pre-existing agreement in place over the fee worth £47million. There is no obligation and the Reds will have the final say at the end of the season.

Ronald Araujo is loving playing for Liverpool and has already become something of a cult hero for their fans

Boss Andoni Iraola has been impressed with the loanee defender and hopes the club can keep him permanently

Araujo's English, at this stage, is limited. The club have offered him daily lessons which he is enjoying but he has taken the additional step of doing an extra hour at home each afternoon. He is able to have basic conversations already.

‘Liverpool is a big club like Barcelona,’ the 27-year-old told Spanish TV after beating Atletico. ‘I am happy, I’m working hard as you can see on the pitch. I am happy here and hungry for more

‘I’m really happy to be here, because Liverpool are a great club, and I’m really looking forward to continuing to give my all so I can keep contributing to the team.

‘I love playing in this stadium; I think it’s a very special and lovely place, and when we’re also able to show off all our hard work here with a good result, it makes us feel very satisfied.’

Araujo was identified because of his versatility and leadership. The Barcelona captain can play at his preferred position of centre back but, as he has shown in the last few days, is just as adept at right back.

He has naturally fallen in with fellow Spanish speakers in the group but Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk have also helped him settle. Sources say how Araujo can ‘smell’ the drive for success and has noticed how everyone in the building is aligned.

Andoni Iraola also gave a glowing review of Araujo, saying after the Atletico game: ‘He’s been very good. The other day he was (against Ipswich) and I’d say he was even better tonight. He’s defending his side really well, but also sometimes because he’s a centre back, we underrate his offensive side.

‘He gave a great assist to Dominik Szoboszlai. He’s made a couple of very good serves from his position and I’m very happy with him. He’s come with the willingness to show he belongs at this level. I hope we can keep him there because he’s in a lovely place.’

Araujo is versatile and a leader - two qualities that make him invaluable to Iraola

Sources close to Araujo say he can ‘smell’ the drive for success behind the scenes at Liverpool and has noticed how everyone is aligned

The three-time La Liga winner adds to the cohort of winners in the building and it should also be said how much he wanted the move.

When Liverpool made contact with his camp, the answer was clear: he was immediately sold on the switch, something cemented by talks with Iraola. He took a pay cut to make the move happen and the Reds are covering that salary in full.

So far, so good. Whether they pay almost £50m for a player who will then be 28 is a question for another day. For now, Araujo is plugging several gaps, excelling in numerous positions – and the Kop are slowly falling in love with a loan player.

Kop Kids - the Eden project is underway

Liverpool’s Under 19s were frustrated in their UEFA Youth League opener on Wednesday afternoon, squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Atletico Madrid.

Mor Talla Ndiaye and Josh Sonni-Lambie, two members of the first-team pre-season party, scored in the first half but Joel Sanchez and Adrian Lis-Zielinski brought the visitors level at Kirkby.

The most notable part of the game, though, was Luca Eden becoming Liverpool's youngest-ever player in the competition, at just 15 years and 182 days old.

Eden takes that mantle from Joshua Abe, the talented 16-year-old who Confidential revealed was set for shoulder surgery a fortnight ago. He has since gone under the knife and is on the road to recovery after correcting a long-standing shoulder problem.

Eden, meanwhile, plays like a certain Steven Gerrard, according to seasoned academy observers. He is just 15 so let’s not put too much pressure on his shoulders but he is clearly one of the best talents in the academy, having joined at age four.

Luca Eden (pictured) has become Liverpool's youngest player ever in the UEFA Youth League and has been compared to Steven Gerrard

Sack the board! Alisson fined for fourth official kit kick

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been fined £8,000 for misconduct following the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.

The goalkeeper was deemed to have acted in an improper manner around the tunnel area after the final whistle.

Confidential has been told the fine relates to Alisson kicking over and damaging the fourth official’s electronic board in frustration as he walked down the tunnel at full-time.

That anger came after Liverpool had waited for three minutes to make substitutions in the build-up to a penalty Alisson conceded, with Iraola accusing the fourth official of taking too long and saying: ‘A professional fourth official cannot take three minutes.’

Alisson accepted the fine.

Alisson has been fined £8,000 after kicking the fourth official's board in frustration following Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest last month

Will Van Dijk get the call?

There were plenty of blasts from the past at Anfield on Wednesday night, from former boss Rafa Benitez to ex-Sky Sports commentator Andy Gray back on the microphone with talkSPORT on his first appearance on UK airwaves since 2014.

Another was former Barcelona midfielder and manager Xavi, who is now the Netherlands head coach. The boss might have been aggrieved to arrive only to learn Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong were substitutes, while Cody Gakpo was injured.

Van Dijk, though, was playing, and Xavi has a decision to make over the national team skipper: will he pick him in his first squad? Van Dijk will turn 37 during the next European Championship in 2028.

The pair have held discussions over this matter and Xavi is to announce his first selection next Friday. There is no serious suggestion Van Dijk will be dropped from the Netherlands’ plans but the two parties wanted to ensure they were aligned.

Lewis loving it

One thing we were promised under Iraola was a trust in youth.

While Arne Slot was sometimes accused of having his favourites and being too stubborn, the new boss is not afraid to promote young players.

It has already been evident with the likes of Lewis Koumas, James McConnell and Luke Chambers being asked to stick around rather than leave the club on loan, a decision flagged in this column two weeks before the transfer deadline.

No one has been rewarded more than Koumas, with the Welshman making his Premier League and Champions League debuts already this campaign.

Only a few months ago Lewis Koumas was sitting on the bench at Hull City - now he is being trusted in huge games in the Premier League and Champions League

You can see why Iraola likes him, too. The 20-year-old comes on late and injects energy, pace and carries out the manager’s pressing instructions well.

Koumas seems to be loving life and can act as an inspiration to all those out on loan. His spell at Hull City saw him score some big goals but ended with him spending most of his time on the substitutes' bench.

A few months on, he is trusted by Iraola in huge games in the league and Europe.