Starting XI: LA Galaxy at Seattle Sounders FC | July 31, 2016

s e v e n t h r e e o n e
LA Galaxy Communications

LA Galaxy Starting XI


Brian Rowe; A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole; Jeff Larentowicz, Nigel de Jong; Emmanuel Boateng, Steven Gerrard, Giovani dos Santos; Robbie Keane ©


Substitutions


Clement Diop, Leonardo, Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Mike Magee, Sebastian Lletget, Alan Gordon


Lineup Notes


  • LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena will start a near top-choice lineup with the return of Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard from injury. The lineup features two changes from last week’s XI against Portland: Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard enter the match for Dave Romney and Gyasi Zardes.
  • LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena enters the match with a 199-118-81 record. With a win in Seattle, 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 19th start and his 20th appearance in MLS this season. Rowe has arguably been MLS’ top goalkeeper this season – he is third in saves (73) and has earned a .89 GAA average, one of just three ‘keepers with a GAA below 1.00. He is also very handsome.
  • Versatile defender A.J. DeLaGarza is right back in the XI with his 15th appearance of the year. DeLaGarza has been a part of a Galaxy defense that has been on lock over the past month – no other player on the roster has made more appearances for LA than DeLaGarza (194 appearances for LA all time).
  • In the center, rock-steady defender Daniel Steres will continue to hold his place along the Galaxy back line. Steres has been one of the most unheralded defenders in MLS this year. After signing with LA from LA Galaxy II this offseason, he has become one of Bruce Arena’s most dependable players.
  • Next to Steres, big, bald Belgian Jelle Van Damme gets the nod after featuring in Thursday’s MLS All-Star game. Van Damme is in the running for MLS Defender of the Year and is in line for an MLS Best XI nod. He has been a beast.
  • Unlike the Galaxy’s last trip to Seattle, Ashley Cole wasn’t left back in Los Angeles and will make the start on the backline. He has been MLS’ top left back when playing this season, making 13 starts on the year.
  • In the central midfield, Nigel de Jong is set to make his 14th start of the year. De Jong joined this offseason from A.C. Milan and has been a stud for the Galaxy.
  • Next to De Jong, Jeff Larentowicz will make his 200th all-time MLS Regular Season start. Larentowicz joined MLS in 2005 and has featured for the New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids, Chicago Fire and the LA Galaxy. He has been one of the most steady players in MLS during his time in the league.
  • On the right, charming Mexico international Giovani dos Santos makes his 17th start of the year. Dos Santos has been a key component of the Galaxy attack this season, racking up seven goals and six assists on the year.
  • In the center of the pitch, English midfielder Steven Gerrard returns to the XI. Gerrard has been huge for LA this year, recording three goals and seven assists, including a goal and three assists in his last four games in MLS.
  • Out wide to the left, Emmanuel Boateng is set to make his eighth start of the year. Boateng will maybe be the shortest player on the field Sunday, and he will definitely be the fastest.  
  • Up top, unfathomably handsome Irishman Robbie Keane will captain the side against Seattle. All time Robbie Keane MLS stats: 116 appearances, 80 goals, 44 assists, 23 game-winning goals, 16 game-winning assists and 19 multi-goal games.


Game Notes


  • All time, the Galaxy are 9-4-6 against Sounders FC and 4-3-3 in road contests in MLS play.
  • Sunday’s match will mark the third time the Galaxy will have faced Seattle this month in all competitions.
  • The Galaxy’s +15 goal differential this year is the best in MLS and their 19 goals allowed are second-fewest in MLS.
  • LA have lost just twice in their previous 18 MLS matches and have won their previous four.
  • The Galaxy have allowed just two goals in their last six games, the fewest in MLS.
  • The Galaxy are 6-0-4 when playing on national television in 2016.
  • This year, the LA Galaxy are 6-0-0 in matches when Robbie Keane scores.
  • Bruce Arena has 199 wins heading into Saturday’s game, one away from becoming only the second MLS head coach to reach 200 wins.
  • This year, the LA Galaxy are 6-0-0 when leading at halftime.
  • Brian Rowe is one of three MLS ‘keepers with a GAA below 1.00 (0.89).


Storylines


  • Will the Galaxy make it 3-0-0 against Seattle this month?
  • Can the Galaxy win their seventh-straight game in all competitions (four MLS; two USOC)?
  • How will Seattle respond in their first match without former Sigi Schmid?
  • Will the Galaxy defense continue their dominant run in last six MLS matches?
  • Can the central-midfield partnership of De Jong/Larentowicz continue to control the tempo?
  • Why doesn’t Brendan Hannan wear more seersucker suits for afternoon games?


Quick hits



Quotable


Steven Gerrard:

  • “I think that’s the danger for us, to go in thinking we’ve done the job twice and we’re going to go up there and do it again. The reason we beat them the previous two times is because we defended very well and we were very aggressive all over the pitch. We played some magnificent stuff going forward. That’s what we’re looking for again. We can’t expect to just turn up because we’re in a confident mood after what’s gone before. That would be a big mistake on our behalf.”


Nigel de Jong:


  • “I expect for them to come out with 100 percent commitment, hungry to show everybody that it’s still a good team. They brought in a couple of players, and it’s always difficult to play against a team that’s just fired the coach. They will be hungry for success, especially at home, and we beat them twice.”


Bruce Arena:


  • “I personally think after all the success he’s had there, and what he’s brought to that club, I would have loved to, obviously, have seen him stay. I would have thought that he earned that. [Seattle] need to do what they think is right for their club/ I know the ownership group there, the management group. They’re good people. So I think they just felt it was in their best interest. I don’t have to agree with that, but that’s the way it came down.”
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