Crooks: MLS Fans Will Finally Get Their Lampard-Gerrard Showdown

By Glenn Crooks
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On the morning of last year's inaugural meeting between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York City Football Club, Sky Sports of England published an article with the headline: Steve Gerrard vs. Frank Lampard. Major League Soccer had adjusted the kickoff in order to accommodate a primetime broadcast for Sky Sports.

A uniquely large contingent of British press had flown to L.A. to cover the match. The legendary journalist, Henry Winter, made the journey to the States and joined me on the pregame of our WFAN broadcast.

PODCAST: 'Soccer In The City' Podcast: Looking Ahead To NYCFC Vs. Galaxy

The MLS web page featured the photos of Gerrard and Lampard to promote the first MLS encounter between the two former Premier League rivals.

That duel failed to materialize. Gerrard, the former Liverpool standout, was fit. Lampard, who played for West Ham, Chelsea and Manchester City, was not. A quad strain prevented Lampard from being on the squad.

Gerrard's team took charge of the match midway through the first half, and the marquis matchup that MLS had hoped to use as a promotional tool for the league overseas was a calamity. In a result that may have triggered the eventual dismissal of coach Jason Kreis, the Galaxy routed City, 5-1.

"I feel there's been an element of quit in our group, which I haven't seen the entire season," Kreis said at the time.

While Kreis is in a new position trying to sort out the other 2015 expansion side, Orlando City SC, NYCFC is enjoying life at the top of the table nearly one year since the L.A. lament, with Lampard playing a significant role in the Eastern Conference surge.

Although following different paths since they arrived last season in MLS, Gerrard and Lampard have emerged at similar moments with their clubs.

Following a late '15 advent and long-term injuries, Lampard was named Etihad Player of the Month in July. Without squabbling, one could suggest that Lampard has been the critical player in the City wave. Chelsea's all-time leading goal scorer has nine tallies in the last 10 matches, including the first hat trick in franchise history. With Lampard in the lineup, City averages 2.1 goals per match. When he is absent, the average dips to 1.3. City finally has a complement to David Villa and is 6-2-2 since Lampard has become a full-time member of the triangle midfield with Andrea Pirlo and Andoni Iraola.

For the most part, Gerrard was ineffective in '15 and the first half of this season, but has been directly involved in eight of the last nine goals scored by the Galaxy (one goal, seven assists). Overall, he is tied with Sebastian Giovinco for second in MLS with 11 assists and has contributed three goals.

On Saturday at Yankee Stadium, perhaps the largest crowd of the year will see two international stars in form for two sides that are fighting for supremacy in their respective divisions. With 11 matches to play, the Galaxy trails front-running FC Dallas by seven points in the West while NYC holds a one-point edge ahead of Toronto FC in the East, where the top five teams are separated by five points.

Furthermore, Gerrard seeks to improve his head-to-head record against Lampard. The two top-scoring midfielders in the Premiership faced each other in 20 regular season matches. Lampard had the edge, winning 10 (one with West Ham and nine victories in the Chelsea blue) to seven for Gerrard (all with Liverpool, his only club prior to the Galaxy). Lampard had three goals and one assist as his teams outscored Liverpool, 24-17. Gerrard had a goal and two assists. In their final EPL meeting, the Liverpool captain had a dubious slip that permitted Demba Ba to walk in on goal and score for Chelsea in a late 2014 match that subsequently ended the hopes for Gerrard's first domestic trophy with the Reds.

Throw-Ins

• L.A.'s Robbie Keane, who turned 36 last month, missed the last match with an orbital fracture. He trained for two days prior to the Galaxy's 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids, but due to MLS concussion protocol, he was not available. Keane trained with a mask this week and is expected to play. He scored two goals and assisted on two others in the thrashing of City in last year's match.

• Saturday will mark the fifth anniversary of Keane's debut with the Galaxy after moving from Tottenham in the EPL. He has 125 goals plus assists (80 goals, 45 assists) since his arrival in the States to lead MLS. Chris Wondolowski (San Jose) is next with 104, followed by Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake) at 80.

The Galaxy have won 58 percent of the matches that Keane has started this season compared to 18 percent when he is out of the first XI.

• New York City came back from a goal down in Columbus last week to push ahead 3-2 in the second minute of stoppage time. However, Ethan Finley managed to gather in the second ball off a late set piece, and his side volley in the 94th minute secured a home point for Crew SC.

It is the second time this season that a three-point victory for City evaporated into a draw in extra time on a free kick. Dominic Oduro's goal for Montreal evened a late April match at Yankee Stadium.

"It's a mental problem," said head coach Patrick Vieira. "We have to defend like it's the last game of the season. We have to concentrate and put our body on the line. It's a lack of experience for some players on the field."

• Vieira and center back Maxime Chanot are suspended for the match against the Galaxy. Sorin Stoica served red cards to both at the conclusion of the Columbus match and a subsequent appeal by NYCFC was denied by the league.

• New York native Bruce Arena is in his ninth season as the head coach of the Galaxy. He estimates that he had been to the original Yankee Stadium about 15 times and said his favorite athlete was Mickey Mantle. What does Arena think of professional soccer in the House that Ruth Built?

"I don't think it feels wrong," he said on the Galaxy website. "I think the combination of that and the field dimensions make it odd. It's certainly a little bit strange, and let's hope down the road they have a soccer stadium because I don't think it's probably the right thing for them. It is for now."

Arena has won three MLS Cups with the Galaxy and two as the manager at D.C. United.

For all things futbol and NYCFC, please follow Glenn on Twitter at @GlennCrooks