Former Newcastle and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has high praise for Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, comparing his potential to that of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. Given believes Bassey has the skills and consistency to become a top defender, citing his impressive performance in Fulham’s 3-2 win over Liverpool.
“Calvin has all the skills to be a top central defender. He ticks all the boxes to be a top, top player. Now he has to be more consistent,” said Fulham manager Marco Silva after the match. Given echoed this sentiment, stating, “Bassey has had a brilliant game and he’s had a really good season… He’s 25 and he’s in his prime. He is strong and he’s enjoying his football.”
Bassey’s Rise to Prominence
Bassey’s journey to becoming a top defender has been impressive. After playing for Rangers and Ajax, he moved to Fulham in 2023, where he’s been making waves with his aggressive and athletic style. In the match against Liverpool, he kept Mohamed Salah quiet, restricting him to zero shots on target.
Comparison to Virgil van Dijk
Given drew parallels between Bassey’s career path and Van Dijk’s, noting that both players made their names in Glasgow before moving to the Premier League. “Am I getting ahead of myself to say Bassey could be in that bracket?” Given asked, referring to Van Dijk’s phenomenal career.
Iwobi’s Stellar Performance
Meanwhile, Alex Iwobi, another Nigerian player, made history by becoming the first Nigerian to register 30+ goals and 30+ assists in the Premier League. His teammate, Andreas Pereira, praised him, saying, “Ronaldinho from Nigeria.” Iwobi’s impressive performance was instrumental in Fulham’s win over Liverpool.