Liverpool look to have a real chance of producing an excellent first season under Arne Slot.
The Reds have come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders with the Dutch coach at the helm and have put themselves in a good position in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
However, with so much of the season left to play, there is concern in some areas about the strength in depth of the Liverpool squad.
The Reds did not do much business at all over the summer when they perhaps could have done with bolstering one or two areas.
Liverpool have not made a signing at centre-back since 2021 and with the futures of both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez currently a little up in the air, that surely has to change in 2025.
And according to Gary Lineker, the Reds may have set their sights on Nottingham Forest’s in-form Brazilian Murillo.
Liverpool targeting Murillo
The centre of Liverpool’s defence has been rock solid this season so far.
After 10 Premier League games, the Reds have conceded just six goals. Something special is potentially brewing there.
Somewhat remarkably, the team with the next best record are the only side to have beaten Liverpool so far: Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest. Murillo has been a key man for the high-flying Reds, playing every single minute of their campaign so far.
With that in mind, a rather interesting discussion took place between Lineker and Alan Shearer on The Rest Is Football on Friday.
“The one tiny worry would be if one of those two [Liverpool] centre-halves were to get injured,” said Shearer.
“I understand they’re after Murillo from Forest,” Lineker interjected. “They’ve been linked with him anyway.”
“Right, interesting,” says Shearer. “Well those two at Forest have done really well as well this season, it’s one of the reasons why Forest are flying high in the Premier League.”
Liverpool could be priced out of Murillo deal
Murillo has been linked with Liverpool and looked like he was potentially an option over the summer.
However, there were claims that Forest were looking to recoup as much as £70m on Murillo. At that kind of price, it’s hard to see Liverpool doing business.
Nevertheless, Murillo is clearly an exceptional young defender. Having just been called into the senior Brazil side for the first time, too, he is going places.
| Ibrahima Konate | Murillo | |
| Tackles won | 1.02 | 0.5 |
| Duels won | 4.75 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0.34 | 0.5 |
| Dribbled past | 0.23 | 1 |
At just six feet tall he is a little on the short side perhaps, but given the way he has performed since coming into the Premier League from Corinthians, that should hardly matter.
In terms of Lineker, it does sound like he’s simply relaying something from the rumour mill rather than providing any inside information here. But if Liverpool really are after Murillo, then you won’t find us complaining.
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