I’m pretty sure the guy next to Clint Dempsey won’t be in the starting XI for the 6:30 p.m. game on Fox Sports 1, however.

From the Sounders press release:

The initiative marks the first time an MLS club has altered its jerseys for any match mid-season, as well as the first time Sounders FC has worn anything other than Rave Green jerseys for an MLS regular season home fixture. The new Halo 5: Guardians-inspired jerseys utilize Sounders FC’s Pitch Black third kits. During warmups, Sounders FC players are also wearing limited edition pre-match training tops, custom-made with Sounders FC and Halo 5: Guardians branding. Sunday’s match is the only opportunity that fans have to buy this one-of-a-kind jersey, as a limited supply of 200 are available for purchase at the CenturyLink Field Pro Shop.

For more information on the infographic, including the methodology behind the rankings, visit the GoEuro website.

Courtesy MLSSoccer.com

The Galaxy ended their scoring drought in a 3-2 win over FC Dallas on Sunday at StubHub Center. The team is now back on top of the table in both the Western Conference and the Supporters Shield race.

Now that we can stop talking about that pesky scoring drought that lasted three games, we can look forward to the final three games of the regular season and what’s going on in other parts of MLS:

Links:

• OK, not done talking about last night’s game yet. Here’s a recap of the 3-2 win that put the Galaxy back on top of the conference and the Supporters’ Shield race.
• Video of Bruce Arena’s press conference and transcript
• Full quote sheet from the Galaxy
• LAGalaxy.com’s Adam Serrano with his analysis, including a note on Steven Gerrard’s good game
• Slo-mo highlights from the Galaxy

Looking forward

OK, now let’s see what the rest of the season could have in store for the Galaxy.

Here’s the current Western Conference table as it stands now.

Because the Whitecaps lost to New York City FC on Saturday, they’ve dropped to second. The Sounders and Sporting Kansas City tied on Sunday, which puts just the tiniest bit more breathing room for the Galaxy at the top. San Jose pulled out a close one against Real Salt Lake on Sunday, so the Earthquakes are surely in the playoff hunt as well.

The Galaxy have only three games left in the season (at Seattle, vs. Portland and at Sporting Kansas City). For now, the Galaxy are the leaders in the clubhouse, but FC Dallas has five games left and could come back to take the lead, despite the loss Sunday. Dallas does lead the Western Conference in points per game (1.62), barely edging out the Galaxy (1.61), but the Galaxy downplayed the disparity of games left.

“There’s one team with 50 points and that’s us,” Bruce Arena said. “We got 50 in the bank; somebody else has to get that. That’s the most important thing.”

Said Robbie Keane: “I’ll take the points on the board all day long than the games in hand. You have to win the games in hand.”

Just for fun

Giovani dos Santos and Robbie Keane, teammates from way back at Tottenham, have developed a strong chemistry both on and off the pitch in Los Angeles. After Keane scored in the 14th minute off an assist from dos Santos, the pair whipped out their best dance moves. (See GIF in tweet).

Aaaaaaaaaaaand we’re back for the second half! Watch live on @FS1! http://t.co/NEq4ZQgvxR #LAvDAL pic.twitter.com/CGPbho3RHk

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 28, 2015

Not sure if it was supposed to be a whip/nae nae type move, but it was fun nonetheless. Dos Santos was asked about it after the game as well: “The dance? It was a celebration that Robbie told me before the game to do that for his son and we did.”

Hit the jump for a full transcript of Bruce Arena’s comments:

On the start to the game: It was a good start. We played well. I think the first half, going in with a one-goal advantage wasn’t right. We conceded that goal and put them back in the game. Give their player credit, No. 21 (Michael Barrios) for not quitting on the play, but we could have done better there. Second half, I thought they started the half pretty strong. Getting the third goal was important for us and the fourth goal was there for us and we didn’t take it. It still kept them a little bit alive. And obviously the last five minutes or so was hectic. But a good start to the game. Two good teams. I think it was an exciting game. A game where both teams created chances and I think it’s a fair result.

On Steven Gerrard’s goal: It was a good goal. He and Juninho played another good game together. I thought it was good, I think the goal will be good for Stevie’s confidence and overall he played well.

On if this game had extra importance considering Dallas has more games to play than the Galaxy: Who knows with everything in this league right now. There’s one team in this league with 50 points right now and that’s us. We have 50 in the bank right now and somebody else has to get that. That’s most important. We’ll get our team ready for the game next week.

On the speed of Dallas: The 11 (Fabian Castillo) and 21 (Barrios) were dangerous all night. At times we did a good job, but those are two really good players, they’re difficult to neutralize. At times we did a pretty good job and other times they had the advantage. It was a good matchup and a good game.

On the recent scoring drought and what they did differently: We scored. There’s been nothing wrong with us. I know you guys just look at the scoreline and leave it at that. It’s all a bunch of crap. Our team is going to score goals.

Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

The Galaxy face FC Dallas in a big MLS matchup today (6:30 p.m., FOX Sports 1) for potential playoff seeding as both teams are tied for second in the Western Conference. Many players, including A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez and Sebastian Lletget, called it a “must-win.”

The team is on a four-game winless streak, having not won since the star-studded affair that was the 5-1 drubbing of New York City FC. The Galaxy have four games remaining in the regular season, with all four games against current play-off bound teams.

Here’s everything you need to know for game day:

GAME DAY (and other stuff) LINKS:

• Previewing the game with a focus on the mentality of a championship team always under fire.

With big-name international stars, a glamorous market and five MLS Cups, the Galaxy are fighting to maintain the legacy of excellence they set for themselves as teams feverishly try to knock them off.

“We’re going to get everyone’s best game of the year, everyone is going to be excited to play us,” said A.J. DeLaGarza, who was drafted out of college by the Galaxy in 2009. “For us, that’s tough to face every single week whether we’re here or on the road. But we have the players and the professionalism to get through that. We haven’t at some times this year and now is going to be the real test.”

• Nick Green’s weekly soccer column asks whether the Galaxy’s slump has knocked them out of the championship conversation.
• It’s another sellout so make sure to arrive early.
• The Corner of the Galaxy podcast talks Steven Gerrard, Bruce Arena and FC Dallas.
• Giovani dos Santos is hopeful to make the final cut for the CONCACAF Cup
• Also on the CONCACAF Cup game, it could be coming to a theater near you.
• Video of Steven Gerrard’s media availability this week

SEBASTIAN LLETGET TRYING TO SHAKE OFF RECENT STRUGGLES

Courtesy LA Galaxy

Lletget made the transition from forgotten American player stuck in West Ham’s development program to young, MLS star look so effortless. But it seems even being “Da Boy” isn’t without its struggles.

In concordance with the Galaxy’s recent slide, Lletget hasn’t played a full 90 in his past three games. He hasn’t scored, and he has no more than one shot per game, none of which fell on goal. The dynamic relationship he has with Robbie Rogers on the left side of the field hasn’t been as productive as it was previously.

On Thursday, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said Lletget is going through a freshman slump, if you will, as the midfielder is really in his first year as a professional.

“I think he’s hit a wall a little bit physically and usually what happens is you generally have a lull for some weeks, but then you start to get your legs back and you’re back again to normal,” Arena said.

Lletget echoed with some of Arena’s thoughts, saying that the grind of the season is both mentally and physically taxing.

“I feel like we’ve grinded it out for a long time, that was a big toll on our bodies,” Lletget said. “Mentally as well, and for some of us, physically, especially me, because I haven’t had this much consistency in a while. But I feel like I’ll be fine, I’m training very well, and I’m confident.”

EARLY GOALS COME BACK TO BITE GALAXY

Of the 39 goals allowed by the Galaxy this year in all competitions, 10 have been within the first 15 minutes of games, including three in the past four.

Conceding early goals has been a problem for the Galaxy all year, but until recently, the offense was always able to pull the team out of an early hole. Arena said teams are playing more defensively against the Galaxy in recent games, putting numbers back to quell any chance of a Galaxy counter.

The head coach also stressed that the poor results of recent weeks haven’t come from technical deficiencies, but from mental ones. Omar Gonzalez specifically said being ready to mentally match the energy of opposing teams at the start of games is important for the rest of the season.

“Teams get up to play us because who we are; we’re the Galaxy,” Gonzalez said. “Every game for them is like a playoff game. We have to get up and match that energy.”

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena was recognized with a Spirit of Courage award Thursday in downtown Los Angeles.

The award is given to Californians who exemplify courage in the fight for a more fair and just society.

Here’s more from the press release:

When Bruce hired Robbie Rogers in 2013, he became the first coach in any major league U.S. men’s sport to hire an openly gay athlete. LA Galaxy mid-fielder Robbie Rogers will speak and present the award. Before winning an MLS Championship with the Galaxy, Robbie represented the U.S. in the 2008 Olympics. In 2013, he launched “Beyond It,” an anti-discrimination campaign. His biography, Coming Out to Play, was published last November.

Galaxy’s Giovani dos Santos gets the ball past Sounders’ keeper Stefan Frei (24) for a goal in a MLS soccer game at the StubHub Center Sunday, August 09, 2015, Carson, CA.. The Galaxy won 3-1 and was the debut MLS game for Mexican star player Giovani dos Santos.Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Seattle SoundersPhoto by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

In less than a week, the United States and Mexico will trim down their provisional rosters for the Oct. 10 showdown between the two federations at the Rose Bowl. After he was left off the team for two international friendlies earlier in the month, dos Santos is hopeful he can make the cut when rosters are trimmed Oct. 1.

“For me, it’s always a dream come true going to the national team,” dos Santos said Thursday after training with the LA Galaxy. “It’s only a pre list so hopefully I can be on the final list.”

Thursday was dos Santos’ first meeting with the media in almost exactly a month. In eight appearances with the Galaxy, he has scored three goals and notched six assists. In his six MLS caps, he has two goals and three assists, but the Galaxy have struggled offensively lately, not scoring a goal in MLS play since the 70th minute of a 5-1 shellacking of NYC FC on Aug. 23. The Galaxy came away from a CONCACAF Champions League game against Central FC on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw and resume MLS play Sunday against FC Dallas in a game that’s expecting a capacity crowd. It will be final game for dos Santos and the Galaxy before rosters are trimmed for the CONCACAF Cup game.

“I think I know I have to play a very good game before that game (on Oct. 10),” dos Santos said, “and hopefully I can show what I can bring to my national team.”

Photo by Brad Graverson/The Daily Breeze

If you weren’t lucky enough to win the ticket lottery for Oct. 10’s United States vs. Mexico CONCACAF Cup matchup in the Rose Bowl (or if you would rather not pony up several hundred dollars for tickets), 200 movie theaters across the nation have partnered with Fox Sports 1 to show the game live.

Two theaters in the South Bay, two in Long Beach and two in Los Angeles will be showing the game on Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Click here for a full list of theaters. Tickets went on sale Friday online, but it seems as if the online server is having some trouble displaying showtimes, so calling your local theater to confirm is probably the safest bet right now.

After provisional rosters were released earlier this month, both teams will cut their lineups down to 23 players on Oct. 1. The LA Galaxy have four players on the provisional rosters: Giovani dos Santos for Mexico and Gyasi Zardes, Omar Gonzalez and Alan Gordon for the United States.

Mexico will be missing its captain after Andres Guardado injured his ankle during the UEFA Champions League against Manchester United.

The game starts at 3 p.m. and is being broadcast live on Univision (Ch. 34 in LA).

¡Acompáñanos en el #UDFieston este sábado para vivir juntos el #ClásicoNacional! pic.twitter.com/YVObsnWRkK

— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 22, 2015