Liverpool have not enjoyed their recent meetings with Nottingham Forest, with centre-back Murillo becoming one of their tormentors in chief.
The Brazilian has been a superb signing for Forest, developing into one of the Premier League’s most committed defenders.
His good displays have led to plenty of transfer speculation, and reports this week have once again claimed that Murillo is on Liverpool’s radar.
Got a horrible feeling Slot is going to keep Gakpo in the XI and drop Salah 😬 Who should be the front four vs Forest?
Liverpool predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest
The Reds are likely to be on the hunt for an Ibrahima Konate successor this summer, and while Jeremy Jacquet has already been signed, there is still room for another defensive addition at Anfield.
Murillo would be an interesting choice, although as Liverpool can handily prove on Sunday, the 23-year-old’s lack of dominance in aerial duels may make him an awkward fit for Arne Slot.
Liverpool like their defenders to be aerially dominant
Standing at only 5 feet 11, Murillo is on the small side for a centre-back. And in the same way that question marks would have been present over Marc Guehi, they would also exist for the Brazil international.
Winning only 55.6% of his aerial duels in the Premier League this season, Murillo does not come close to either Konate or Virgil van Dijk.
Alexander Isak shoots on goal during Liverpool's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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Liverpool have struggled to deal with set-pieces this season, and as they regularly come under pressure from teams who like to play a more direct style against them, Slot really needs centre-backs who can win balls in the air.
Van Dijk is consistently one of the best in the Premier League in this respect, winning 76.5% of his aerial duels this season, while Konate is not far behind on 72.7%. Murillo would be a departure from this.
He fared better last season, when Forest themselves were much more superior, with the centre-back winning 65.7% of battles in the air. But his struggles also appear to translate to the Europa League, where his tally of 55.6% is well below average for the competition this season.
You get to add one Nottingham Forest player to Liverpool’s squad, who you picking and why?
Anderson, Murillo, Williams, or somebody else?
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Murillo of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool at City Ground. Neco Williams playing for Nottingham Forest.
Credit: Molly Darlington/ Diego Souto/Copa/Michael Regan/Getty Images
As they prepare to meet him again on Sunday, Liverpool should target this weakness as they aim to beat Forest for the first time in four attempts.
Jeremy Jacquet shows why Liverpool may discount Murillo
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool look for another centre-back during the summer transfer window. Much will clearly hinge on if Konate signs a late contract extension.
In the meantime, their acquisition of Jacquet gives a clue into the fact that the Reds’ recruitment team may be taking aerial duels into account.
Like Van Dijk and Konate, the Rennes youngster is generally dominant in the air, winning 75.5% of his duels in Ligue 1 this season.
As one of the best headers of the ball in France, it is easy to see how the 20-year-old can slot into Liverpool’s idea of defending.
As for Murillo, he is nowhere near that level. That would not make him a bad signing necessarily, and he will surely show plenty of his qualities on Sunday as well. But in terms of a natural fit, the Forest man may not be it.
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