Galaxy’s Steven Gerrard is thriving with a little help from his friends
Jeff Larentowicz never scored more than seven goals in any of his 13 Major League Soccer seasons. Robbie Keane scored that many in four games last summer.
Yet if you’re looking for a reason why the Galaxy’s slumbering offense has recently begun to stir, the impact of Larentowicz in the center of the field just might trump the return of Keane up front.
After missing the first six games of the season following off-season hernia surgery, then starting just one of the next six, Larentowicz has played himself into the lineup as a holding midfielder. That has allowed Steven Gerrard to join the attack and he’s made the most of it, assisting on the last four Galaxy goals — including one by Larentowicz — heading into Saturday’s road showdown with the struggling Seattle Sounders.
“[Coach] Bruce Arena is trusting me further up the pitch. That’s the key,” said Gerrard, who entered the weekend third in the league with seven assists in 12 games. “Play me closer to the attacking players and I’ll make plays. It’s simple.
“I can’t make plays from the edge of my box. Play me closer to the opposition goal and I’ll try to get goals and try to create goals.”
None of that is possible without Larentowicz and Nigel de Jong locking down the defensive midfield duties, freeing Gerrard of those responsibilities and allowing him to become a playmaker, his preferred role.
But he may have to settle for something a little different Saturday. With De Jong suspended after drawing a red card in the Galaxy’s July 4 win over Vancouver and left back Ashley Cole out with an undisclosed injury, Gerrard may have to help defend against a Seattle team that ranks last in the league with 14 goals and nine losses (in 16 games).
Gerrard is keeping his fingers crossed.
“I’m not going to settle. I want to keep pushing and keep trying to add to my numbers,” he said. “Certainly in this position I know that I can get the chance and I know I can create chances.
“I’ve done it all my career.”
Not in his MLS career. The three assists in the last two games mark a U.S. high for Gerrard, as do the six shots — three on goal — he took in last month’s draw with San Jose.
Credit part of that to his getting healthy after missing five games to calf and hamstring problems. In fact, if he plays against Seattle as expected, it will be just the second time this year he has appeared in four consecutive games.
Getting comfortable has also helped. Monday will mark the one-year anniversary of Gerrard’s Galaxy debut following 17 years with Liverpool, his hometown team in the English Premier League. And the adjustment to soccer — and life — in the U.S. proved more challenging than anticipated.
“There’s certain to be a transition and settling on and off the pitch,” Gerrard said after training Friday. “That’s the reason why my form has been quite good of late.
“A happy footballer and a settled footballer can play well and find consistency. I’m enjoying my football.”
kevin.baxter@latimes.com
