There are several tactical parallels between football and basketball. Both sports concentrate on generating space and movement off the ball, as well as capitalizing on advantageous situations. Of course, there are several variances, but the fundamental concepts remain the same.
Maybe this is why there have been so many crossovers between football and basketball in recent years, notably at Liverpool. This summer, NBA coach Steve Kerr visited the AXA Training Centre to see Liverpool, and the Reds met with Boston Celtics’ Grant Williams on their tour to the United States.
Of course, Liverpool’s most prominent basketball connection is with LeBron James. Being a part-owner of the club, James has lately cooperated with Nike on a unique LeBron line of clothes for Liverpool, and he often talks about keeping an eye on the team.
Nevertheless, on the court, the 38-year-old veteran has continued to come up big for the Los Angeles Lakers, and his performance last night as the NBA regular season came to an end was just another evidence of his genius.
LeBron James scored 36 points for the Lakers against the Jazz in a must-win game to secure his team’s qualification for the playoffs and a chance to win the NBA Championship in 2023.
In the process, he became the NBA player with the second most 35+ points in a single game after his 38th birthday. This is his 11th since he became 38 years old.
It is a big accomplishment and another statistic that will undoubtedly cement LeBron’s status as one of the finest players in NBA history.
His recent performances are also a timely reminder to Liverpool’s players, who are nearing the end of their careers. Most famous are Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom were and still are regarded as among the greatest in the world.
LeBron is evidence that they can maintain their current level of performance for many years to come. If anything, their finest years may be ahead of them rather than behind them.
It is something FSG will have to think about as well. After reaching a critical juncture at Liverpool, it will be critical for FSG to navigate the next phase of the rebuilding process at Anfield.
LeBron James may have just shown why experience is vital to consider, and why some of Liverpool’s elderly stars may continue to be key players for Jürgen Klopp for years to come.
Jürgen Klopp’s quiet hero just surpassed Roberto Firmino in a $45m Liverpool trade
Liverpool’s second-half effort against Arsenal may not have been enough to secure all three points in the game, but it would have been enough on another day. With many high-quality opportunities produced and a Mohamed Salah penalty missed, Roberto Firmino’s goal was required to even salvage a draw.
Yet, Liverpool can draw a lot of positives from the encounter. The Reds displayed the tenacity and grit that earned Jürgen Klopp’s club the moniker “mentality monsters” last season, and for the first time this season, that attitude was evident.
Individual performances, most notably Ibrahima Konaté and Trent Alexander-Arnold excelling in unfamiliar roles, are also noteworthy, as are Jordan Henderson’s excellent midfield showing and Mohamed Salah’s brilliance, despite scuffing his penalty wide.
Firmino, of course, will get the most of the credit for his equalizer. But there was one player who mirrored the Brazilian on Sunday afternoon who isn’t receiving the credit he deserves.
Cody Gakpo had a quietly fantastic performance against Arsenal, filling Firmino’s former number-nine position at Anfield.
Gakpo had a significant impact on the game, both on and off the ball, despite not being directly involved in the goals or Liverpool’s best opportunities. In possession, he was at his best, pushing the ball forward in central areas and pulling defenders out to create space for Mohamed Salah, who made the most of it with 20 touches inside the Arsenal box — the most by any player in the Premier League in a single game this season.
At the same time, Gakpo was instrumental in Liverpool’s front-line defense. He recovered seven times and won six of his eleven duels. The former was more than his attacking teammates Salah and Diogo Jota combined (five).