---
title: "‘Valuable’ – Andoni Iraola heaps praise on four Liverpool players"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/valuable-andoni-iraola-heaps-praise-on-four-liverpool-players/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2026-09-09T21:36:57Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T13:13:36Z"
---

# ‘Valuable’ – Andoni Iraola heaps praise on four Liverpool players

**Liverpool secured a well-deserved 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid in what turned out to be an entertaining game of UEFA Champions League football at Anfield.**

After Marcos Llorente’s opener, Dom Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were at hand to save the Reds and complete the comeback either side of half-time.

A handful of players played really well for the home side, but Andoni Iraola reserved special praise for four of them: Mac Allister, Ronald Araujo, Jeremie Frimpong and Kostas Tsimikas.

## Andoni Iraola praises four Liverpool players

Mac Allister’s thunderbolt gave Liverpool the lead in the second half as he capped off a fine performance with a goal.

“Alexis has been very smart,” said Iraola after the game.

“They were putting all the pressure on him to try and get the second yellow card but he’s a clever player.”

The Spaniard also singled out Ronald Araujo for special praise for his brilliant backheel in the lead-up to Szoboszlai’s goal.

And finally, Kostas Tsimikas and Jeremie Frimpong came on as substitutes and produced decent cameos, earning praise from their manager after the game.

> Andoni Iraola:\
> \
> “Alexis has been very smart. They were putting all the pressure on him to try and get the second yellow card but he’s a clever player.”
>
> — AS (@Anfield\_Sector) [September 9, 2026](https://x.com/Anfield_Sector/status/2097794596314960147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

“Ronald, we probably don’t value him offensively but he’s got good crossing ability, smart on his decision-making also,” continued Iraola.

“Players like Jeremie Frimpong, Kostas \[Tsimikas\] haven’t started many games. They are probably disappointed but they have to come on and help us a lot.

“Even for five minutes, like Kostas today, he did well, calm on the ball; this is very valuable for the team.”

Overall, another great European night for the Reds under the Anfield lights…