Araujo’s agent delays Liverpool future talks as Carragher backs team to challenge Arsenal

Eduardo Crnjar, Ronald Araujo’s agent, said it was too early to discuss the Uruguayan defender’s future after the season, adding that he was satisfied with his performances and happy to play for Liverpool and help the team and his teammates.

Araujo joined Liverpool from Barcelona on a one-season loan in August. He made more than 200 appearances for Barcelona and featured in Liverpool’s first 13 matches of this season, starting 11 of them. The report noted that some fans were urging the club to sign him permanently, but his agent played down the chances of his future being decided at this stage.

In other news, Jamie Carragher changed his stance on Liverpool’s chances of challenging for the Premier League title, saying the team could be Arsenal’s closest challengers. The former defender had expressed doubts at the start of the season about Andoni Iraola’s ability to take the team back into the title race, but said his outlook had become more positive after he noticed signs of the manager’s project.

Carragher said that, in his view, one reason Liverpool’s chances had improved was the fallout from the ruling in the Manchester City case, predicting that the club would face a punishment that could prevent it from challenging for the title. Liverpool had won five consecutive matches, including victories over LASK, Brentford, Villarreal, Brighton and Chelsea, scoring 15 goals in the process; they had also booked a place in the League Cup quarter-finals after beating Chelsea on penalties. They are due to face Arsenal in the league on Sunday.