Murillo has seemingly closed the door on a move to Liverpool - at least for now. The Brazilian has been a star performer for Nottingham Forest this season, and caught the eye in their 1-1 draw with the Reds on Tuesday night.

He made 17 clearances against Arne Slot’s side, with the total the most by a player in a Premier League game this season. He had already held the record prior to facing Liverpool, having made 15 clearances against Brighton & Hove Albion back in September.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side boast the joint-second best defensive record in the Premier League this season - along with the Reds - having conceded 20 goals.

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Meanwhile, the Tricky Trees have kept the most clean sheets, with Murillo involved in eight of their nine shut-outs.

The 22-year-old’s form has not gone unnoticed, with the Brazilian repeatedly being linked with a move to the likes of Liverpool in recent months. He had been tipped to make a summer transfer off the back of his eye-catching displays.

However, with Forest now sitting third in the Premier League table, just six points behind the Reds, Murillo has seemingly committed his future to the club as he eyes up playing Champions League football with the East Midlands outfit next season.

"We know how important it is, especially playing against a great team like Liverpool," he told TNT Sports Mexico. "We know how difficult it was, but I believe we played two good games - One win, one draw.

"It's not for any team, it's more the phase we're going through, but I'm happier with the results of my team. Without them, it wouldn't be possible, so I'm very grateful to them, to the coach, Nuno, who helps me every day. Because of the phase we're going through, I am sure that we will seek much more than this.

"We know how much the club fought to return to its roots and we know the greatness of this story, so we are here to continue and give this dream and give this joy to the fans because we know that their support is surreal.

"So we do this for them, for us, for our family and for our work, which we know is a job, no matter how much we love it, it's a complicated job. Not everyone can live what we live, so we value that a lot.

"It is the objective but an objective that we saw can be achieved due to the potential, the day-to-day life that we live, the results as well as the team that we are managing to form.

"We also see the achievements that are I think surreal, so we see this as an objective. We are in third place today, enjoying one of our best phases in the last seven games. We have six wins and one draw, and we are undefeated so let's work.

"We will love hearing this (Champions League) music at the City Ground. Our club already has won two (European Cups) and it would be an honour to compete in the Champions League again with Nottingham Forest.

"It is a lot of work, hard work every day. In a little while, towards the penultimate round of fixtures, we will talk about this, God willing, everything will be."

While Murillo is seemingly committed to staying put with Forest, for now, he had previously opened the door to joining Liverpool as he admitted he was aiming to get a move to one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs after a year at the City Ground.

"I had the dream of playing in the Premier League and I had that thought," he revealed on the Benja Me Mucho podcast last year. "I thought: 'I’ll go to Nottingham Forest, have a good year and then I'll go to a big club'. I had that in my head.

"I’d choose Manchester City but it would be more difficult for me to be a regular starter given the players they have in their squad. There’s City, Arsenal as well, who are fighting for the Premier League title.

“I wouldn’t discard Liverpool either. It would be a good opportunity for me to show my football in a big club."

Murillo is now enjoying his second season with Forest, after being named their player of the season last year. Under contract until 2028 after joining in a £15m deal from Corinthians back in August 2023. Forest will expect to sell for a hefty profit when the time comes, with potential Champions League football next season only increasing their would-be asking price.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been urged to strengthen their defensive ranks in January by onlookers, with Andy Robertson’s form the subject of increasing scrutiny, Joe Gomez sidelined with a hamstring injury and Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley only just back from lay-offs of their own.

With the futures of both Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also uncertain ahead of their contracts expiring in the summer, it would not be a surprise if they added to their defensive ranks at some point in 2025