Brazilian’s self-confident, brave defending marks him as emerging candidate for one of the world’s best centre-backs. Sore heads will be the order of the day in Nottingham on Wednesday morning. One of those will belong to the Forest centre-back Murillo who spent 90 minutes using his cranium in an attempt to help his side hold on to a lead against Liverpool. It was not meant to be in the end, but this was further evidence the 22-year-old is growing into one of the world’s best defenders thanks to the perfect balance of intelligence, aggression and physicality.
![[Liverpool's Luis Díaz in action with Forest's Murillo and Ola Aina]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e6116e6ad4251f96f51c411ce3939c41db833d36/0_106_5274_3165/master/5274.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Not only were a multitude of crosses nutted out of the box with great regularity but the focus required to quieten the most prolific forward line in the country and possibly the finest in Europe would have made anyone physically and mentally weary, although Murillo will not fear a hangover. Forest have conceded once in two matches against the league leaders, who have scored 47 in their other 18. It is not through luck that Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have dealt so well with Liverpool, it takes plenty of organisation and quality.
The Brazilian’s experience with Corinthians was limited when Forest took a £10m punt on the young centre-back during their scattergun epoch of recruitment. Many must have wondered if his lack of credentials would make him a concern in a Premier League defence, especially one struggling as it was when he landed in the East Midlands.
Murillo is certainly not short of confidence and likes to play on the front foot; in the first half he picked up a loose ball just inside the Liverpool half and decided, as no other centre-back would, that the only option was to drive forward and take aim from around 40 yards. He possesses a thunderous left foot and his compatriot Alisson expressed some concern as it whistled past his post.
