A relatively unknown player made his debut in the Premier League earlier this month, and just six days later, he was presented with his own segment on Match of the Day. The flagship British show is dedicated to showing highlights of all of the weekend’s matches, with a Goal of the Month section included every four weeks.
Murillo did not score a goal for Nottingham Forest, but that is exactly why he was awarded ‘Nearly Goal of the Month’ by the panel, which consisted of Mark Chapman, Alan Shearer and ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy. The Brazilian defender almost scored a wondergoal of sorts in just his second start at his new club.
The South American starlet was signed from Corinthians for a relatively nominal fee before the closure of the summer window, and he is now starting to make an impact. In a moment of madness against Crystal Palace, he assumed possession near the halfway line before going on a slaloming run towards the penalty spot, dribbling past a whole host of opponents before shooting and getting his effort saved by Sam Johnstone.
To suggest that it could have been a contender for Goal of the Season would be an understatement, with Murillo shocking supporters in the stadium for two reasons. First, he was supposed to be a defender, not an attacker with expert dribbling skills, and second, few people in the ground even knew his name.
After the bout, Steve Cooper was asked about the young prospect, who is still just 21 years old. The Nottingham Forest boss, who managed a number of Liverpool’s youth teams around a decade ago while also heading up the club’s academy at one stage, labeled him a ‘real talent’ in his interview.
“Everyone has asked me about it,” he said when talking about Murillo’s daring run. “What he did to get there was spectacular. I felt his passing and composure was exceptional. He’s making a lot of tackles and interceptions. He’s a real talent. We’ve enjoyed working with him. He’s trained excellently.”
Players certainly shouldn’t be signed based on individual highlight reels and isolated moments of brilliance, but there is one particular reason why Murillo should potentially be tracked by Liverpool over the next 12 months, and it relates to his preferred foot.
The Tricky Trees youngster is left-footed, and Jürgen Klopp could very much be in the market for a left-footed defender right now. Over the course of the summer, Liverpool was linked to several including Micky van de Ven, who joined Tottenham Hotspur, and Gonçalo Inácio, who proceeded to sign a new contract with Sporting Lisbon.
In the end, Klopp decided to revamp his midfield department, saving his defensive job for another window. Andy Robertson is currently operating as Liverpool’s first-choice left-footer at the back, but it is worth noting the captain of Scotland is now 29 years old, and he’s not entirely suited to the role that he’s been occupying for the past six months.
Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has operated as an inverted full-back since April, playing as a situational midfielder whenever Liverpool has possession of the ball by roaming towards the middle. Whenever the Scouse defender makes his movement, Robertson is expected to tuck inside alongside Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté to form a back three.
He has delivered admirable displays in the role, but it is clear that the attack-minded Robertson would prefer to be getting forward and creating chances for his teammates to score.
Klopp talked about the tactical shift last season (via the ECHO), stating: “Of course [the 3-2-5] changed his role slightly. That’s clear. We cannot have one full-back in the center of the field and the other constantly high up on the left side. That’s difficult, so Robbo has to judge the situations when he can be involved and when he can overlap.”
The shift explains why Liverpool is chasing a new left-footed defender, and Murillo fits that bill. He is youthful, technical, fast and physical, and although it is very early days in his Premier League career, it is already clear that he’s got plenty of potential attached to his game.
Ex-Red Jamie Redknapp was full of praise for the central defender after watching him, stating: “He’s going to be a real fans’ favorite. Every club’s going to be looking at this guy. He possesses a lot of weapons in his armory. He’s got a lovely left foot, which gives you a massive advantage. Can he defend? Yes. Then he turns into prime Roberto Carlos with this unbelievable piece of skill. That’s what you want with modern-day center-backs.
Months will pass before Klopp next thinks about the transfer market, but by the time the window next opens, Murillo could have secured a spot on Liverpool’s shortlist if his start to life in England is anything to go by.
