Fulham manager confirms Super Eagles star will not be named in matchday squad against Liverpool

Fulham manager Marco Silva addressed the media on Thursday, providing a squad update ahead of his team's Premier League clash with table-toppers Liverpool at Anfield.

The Portuguese football tactician confirmed that Super Eagles star Calvin Bassey will sit out the game against the Reds due to accumulated bookings.

Players who receive a total of five yellow cards in their first nineteen Premier League matches will be given a one-match suspension.

Bassey received his fifth yellow card of the season during the Cottagers' 1-1 draw with Arsenal last weekend, triggering an automatic one-game ban.

The Nigeria international was booked in the 72nd minute for pushing Arsenal forward Kai Havertz.

Bassey was also shown yellow cards in matches against Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In response to a question about squad availability, Silva said at the pre-match press conference: "No fresh news, really, just Joachim and Harrison Reed, plus Reiss Nelson from the game we played against Brighton.

"They are going to be out for the game, and of course, the third game of Tom Cairney, plus the fifth yellow card from Calvin Bassey."

Bassey is the joint-most used player in the Cottagers' squad this season, logging 1,350 minutes across fifteen games, an honour he shares with Bernd Leno and Antonee Robinson.

If he is cautioned four more times this term, the former Rangers defender will break his yellow card record of eight in a single campaign.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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