LA Galaxy Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Brian Rowe; A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole; Steven Gerrard ©, Nigel de Jong; Sebastian Lletget, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng; Gyasi Zardes

Substitutions

Dan Kennedy, Leonardo, Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Raul Mendiola, Mike Magee, Alan Gordon

Lineup Notes

• LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena will again adjust his lineup to accommodate for the last of three matches in a week’s time. The lineup will feature two changes from the team’s last MLS match against New York Red Bulls: Gyasi Zardes and Emmanuel Boateng start in place of Robbie Keane and Jeff Larentowicz.
• Bruce Arena enters the match with a 199-118-83 record all time as an MLS coach. With a win Saturday against Colorado, Arena would become just the second coach in MLS history with 200 wins, joining former Sounders coach Sigi Schmid.
• LA Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe is set to make his 21^th start and his 22^nd appearance in MLS this season. On the year, Rowe has been a beast: he is the only MLS goalkeeper with 20+ games and a GAA under 1.00. He is second in MLS in saves with 83 on the year.
• The dependable veteran defender A.J. DeLaGarza makes his 17^th start of the season. No other current Galaxy member has made as many appearances as DeLaGarza with 196 appearances all time for LA.
• In the center, two-time LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year Daniel Steres continues his breakout season in MLS. Steres has made 21 appearances this year and been one of the most consistent players along the backline.
• Alongside Steres is big, bald, Belgian centerback Jelle Van Damme. Since joining the Galaxy this offseason, Van Damme has solidified himself as one of the best in MLS. He is in line for MLS Best XI and MLS Defender of the Year.
• Fresh off his first-ever goal in Major League Soccer, Ashley Cole will make his 16^th start of the year. Cole has been arguably the top left back in MLS this year since joining from AS Roma before the start of the season.
• Patrolling the center of the pitch, Nigel de Jong will make his 16^th start of the season in midfield for LA. De Jong’s nicknames include The Lawnmower & The Destroyer and you should know that.
• Steven Gerrard will drop back Saturday to adjust for the absence of Jeff Larentowicz, who is out on a one-game suspension. Gerrard will look to help dictate play in the midfield alongside De Jong. This year, the Englishman is tied for second in assists in MLS with 10 and is first in assists per 90 minutes (.75).
• On the right, Sebastian Lletget gets the nod after a strong month of July that saw him tally three goals in all competitions. Lletget has notched eight goals and five assists for LA since joining midway through last year.
• Pulling the strings for the offense, Mexico international Giovani dos Santos will play the #10 role Saturday against Colorado in his 19^th start of the season. Dos Santos is one of two MLS players to have recorded seven+ goals and eight+ assists on the year.
• On the left, speedy Emmanuel Boateng earns the nod after a strong performance Wednesday night in the U.S. Open Cup. The tiny Ghanaian will be the fastest player on the field Saturday.
• Up top, Hawthorne hero and USMNT regular Gyasi Zardes returns to the Starting XI after missing the previous two games with a pectoral strain. Zardes has five goals and five assists on the season.

Game Notes

• The Galaxy’s +15 goal differential this year is the best in MLS and their 22 goals allowed are second-fewest in MLS.
• The Galaxy are unbeaten in their last eight MLS matches (6-0-2).
• The Galaxy have allowed just five goals in their last eight MLS matches.
• In their last five MLS matches at StubHub Center, the Galaxy have conceded just two goals total.
• This season, the Galaxy are 6-0-5 at StubHub Center, scoring 23 goals while allowing just 10.
• The Galaxy have been one of the most successful MLS teams at home during the last four seasons, scoring 140 total goals at StubHub Center, the most of any team.
• The Galaxy’s home MLS record throughout the last four seasons is 40-5-16, with 140 goals for and just 46 against.
• Since 2014, the Galaxy have only lost five of their previous 61 MLS games at StubHub Center.
• This year, the LA Galaxy are 6-0-0 when leading at halftime.
• Bruce Arena has 199 wins heading into Sunday’s game, one away from becoming only the second MLS head coach to reach 200 wins.

Storylines

• Can the Galaxy rebound from a heartbreaking defeat in the USOC Semifinal Wednesday?
• How will the Galaxy offense fare without Robbie Keane?
• What will the De Jong-Gerrard central midfield partnership yield?
• Can the Galaxy close the gap on the Rapids in the Western Conference/MLS standings?
• How will the LA defense respond after conceding two goals in their last home match?

Quick hits

LA-COL Preview
Saturday is Special Olympics Night
This is important and you should watch it – The LA Galaxy Ridiculous Soccer Challenge
MIXTAPE. Enjoy the Galaxy’s best moments of July in this very cool video
Bruce Arena responds to LA-NYRB referee controversy
Quotable:

Bruce Arena:

On Tim Howard:

“I don’t know if I would call him an old friend. He might call me an old friend. It’s great to have Tim back (in MLS). I’ve known him a lot of years. He’s a real good person and an outstanding goalkeeper, and I think it’s great to have a person and a player of his caliber back in the league.”

Gyasi Zardes:

On USMNT teammate Tim Howard:

“He’s a great goalkeeper and I love playing against him, whether it’s in training or this weekend. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to play against him.”

Joe Tutino:

On flavors of gum:

“The more, the merrier.”