When Nottingham Forest sought a solution to the set-piece vulnerability that had beset them last season, they alighted upon a centre-back in Florence who has become known as ‘The Serbinator’.

Nikola Milenkovic is the £10.1 million signing from Fiorentina and arguably the bargain of the year, playing a crucial role in Forest’s transformation from relegation possibles to surprise title contenders. Defensively no-nonsense, yet mobile and accomplished on the ball, he stands at 6ft 5in and that ‘Serbinator’ nickname – discovered online by team-mate Harry Toffolo – is perfect.

He will be vital on Tuesday night as Forest prepare for their own ‘Judgment Day’ when they face league leaders Liverpool. Forest are targeting a seventh successive league win and a 10th clean sheet, and Milenkovic recognises what is at stake for this famous old club.

“I was very aware of Forest’s history before I signed and being champions of Europe twice is an incredible thing,” he says.

“We need to bring this history with us and try to create some of our own. This jersey has a lot of weight attached to it. We need to represent our club, history and fans every single week.

“To return this club to Europe would be a brilliant achievement but we must not look too much into the future.”

‘All defenders live for clean sheets’

More on Forest’s mission to complete a league double over Arne Slot later, but first we have to examine the impact of Milenkovic. Appointed as Serbia’s new captain last year, the 27-year-old has been a revelation in his first season as a Premier League player.

While the magic of Morgan Gibbs-White, goals of Chris Wood and consistency of last season’s player of the year Murillo have been invaluable, Milenkovic’s contribution cannot be overestimated.

Aside from his giant build, his reading of the game is key. A threat at set-pieces in the opposition’s penalty area, he already has two goals including one at Manchester United.

He is low-maintenance but ultra-competitive and has been known to storm off in a rage if he loses at table tennis or darts: and then insist on playing until he wins.

It is easy to understand why Forest signed him. Last season they conceded a league-high 23 goals from set-pieces, while Milenkovic won the most aerial duels in Serie A.

“I was aware of the record last season and they told me they wanted me to help fix it,” he says.

“I watched some of those goals and it was not easy to watch. Set-pieces are all about focus, concentration and a desire to protect the goal. We do a lot of work on it every week and put big attention on it.”

Tottenham and West Ham both considered signing him over the years but it was Forest who agreed a deal with Fiorentina in July. He has proved a triumph of recruitment and was recently described by owner Evangelos Marinakis as “a really good deal.”

Milenkovic has formed an outstanding partnership with Murillo and aside from the league-high nine clean sheets, Forest are only behind Arsenal on goals conceded.

“It’s the objective for every defender, we all live for clean sheets. Even in training,” he says.

“There was a period towards the end of last year when we conceded too many goals [12 in six games] and it was difficult to accept. Since then we have worked on it more and are defensively much stronger.

“I am so happy up to now, but I don’t like to speak about myself on a personal level. You cannot achieve anything as an individual, the team is the most important thing.”

‘We want to do big things’

It is that mindset which provides an intriguing insight into how Forest are writing one of the stories of the season so far.

Last year the club survived on the final day with the lowest points total ever from a team to avoid relegation in the Premier League, at 32. This season could not be more different, with the feel-good factor sky-high ahead of Tuesday’s showdown with Liverpool.

At the heart of Forest’s success is a sense of real togetherness, with Milenkovic admitting the feeling is of one big family.

“I’ve never known a dressing room like this before in my career. When I signed I noticed it immediately and it gave me a lot of optimism for the future,” he says.

“There is a real chemistry between all the players and staff, the connection is just so strong.

“We want to do big things, so we need to keep this ambition and hunger for success.

“We are so happy with what we’ve done up to now but the season is long and we have to keep going. We need to continue growing up because we’re a young team.”

Forest supporters of a certain vintage insist Milenkovic and Murillo are the club’s best central defensive partnership since European Cup winners Larry Lloyd and Kenny Burns. There are many similarities, with the two pairs perfectly matched and sharing an almost telepathic connection.

While Milenkovic and Murillo are intimidating enough, it is difficult to picture either of them repeating the antics of Burns before the 1980 triumph over Hamburg, when he famously spooked Kevin Keegan in the tunnel by removing his false teeth.

“It’s so important to trust your partner in defence,” says Milenkovic. “Our relationship is built on that and knowing how the other will react in certain situations. We speak a lot away from here, about lots of other things apart from football.

“We understand each other and cover each other’s backs. It’s not just Murillo, it’s the back-four and [goalkeeper] Matz [Sels], but I am so happy with how Murillo is performing.

“He can do even better because he has massive potential.”

‘I am calmer now... maybe!’

Another aspect of Milenkovic’s season which has caught the eye is his excellent disciplinary record. So far this campaign he has picked up just two yellow cards, compared to 27 cautions and two dismissals in the last three years at Fiorentina.

“I am calmer now than I was a few years ago. Well, maybe!

“It is all about experience and anticipating the things before they happen. Timing is everything for a defender, and knowing when to make better decisions comes with age.”

Milenkovic does lots of homework away from the training ground. On the night before games he sits with his iPad watching clips of the forwards he is to face the following day.

“I like to be prepared,” he says. “I need to watch the players I come up against because I don’t want anything to take me by surprise. Watching the style of play of teams is also important.

“This is a new league for me so preparation and the work during the week is crucial.”

‘Vidic was my No 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 hero’

Forest’s move in the summer ended a spell of seven years with Fiorentina, with the last two campaigns ending with defeats in the Europa Conference League finals.

It has been a capricious journey from his childhood in Zarkovo, a mostly residential area in Belgrade. The driving force behind his career from a playing perspective has been his hero, Nemanja Vidic, the former Manchester United colossus.

“He is the best Serbian defender ever. He was my idol growing up and I watched so many of his games on YouTube,” he says. “I have never met him but his character, mentality and leadership is inspirational. I have learned a lot of things from him to improve my game.

“Were there any other inspirations? No, Vidic was No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5!”

Milenkovic follows a strong Premier League tradition of defenders from Serbia including Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic, yet is now establishing a stellar reputation of his own.

A popular member of the dressing room, he is unfailingly polite and prefers to learn English through speaking to his team-mates. That is also an instruction from manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who demands that his squad speak to each other in English regardless of nationality to build team spirit.

Milenkovic’s own family is close to his heart, and two months ago he became a father for the first time with the birth of a baby boy. His partner and son moved to Nottingham earlier this month.

‘It’s so difficult to play against Liverpool’

Now, onto Liverpool. Forest were the only team to beat Slot in 49 competitive matches last year with their 1-0 victory at Anfield in September.

It was a tactical masterclass from Nuno and, before Liverpool’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg last week, Slot had regularly admitted his frustration at the only blemish on his record so far.

“It was a famous win but such a tough game,” recalls Milenkovic. “It’s so difficult to play against Liverpool because they can hurt you at any moment.

“They have a lot of quality players who can change the match with one pass. We prepared so well and were focused, it was a big three points.

“To do the double over them would be a huge moment. When we play in front of our fans they are our 12th man and we want to repay their support.”

Could Tuesday night be a clash between two title contenders? Milenkovic smiles, offering a forward defensive stroke to rival Sir Geoffrey Boycott in his pomp.

“For now, we have to stay focused game by game and we’ll see if we arrive there at the end of the season.

“I will say this, though. We are not surprised with where we are, it is now reality.”