Galaxy-Sounders preview

The Los Angeles Galaxy will try to extend their unbeaten streak to five games when it visits the Seattle Sounders on Saturday at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Seattle, which has struggled this season, should be bolstered by the return of Clint Dempsey.

Los Angeles (6-3-8) is fourth in Major League Soccer's Western Conference with 26 points. The Galaxy, who rank third in the MLS in scoring with 30 goals, have not lost since falling 1-0 to Toronto FC on June 18.

Two of the team's three wins during that stretch came in U.S. Open Cup competition. The Galaxy were winless in seven MLS matches before beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 on Monday.

"We're moving into a critical stage of the season," said LA's Steven Gerrard, who has seven assists this season. "We need to keep taking maximum points. I look back on the first half of the season and see where we let too many good positions slip and dropped silly points."

Los Angeles seemed to get a jolt from the return of midfielder Gyasi Zardes and striker Robbie Keane. Zardes was away with the U.S. national team. Keane was with the Irish national team. Keane scored a goal in his first game back.

Seattle (5-5-7) is ninth in the Western Conference with 17 points and last in the MLS with 14 goals. Rookie Jordan Morris has six goals in MLS play this season.

The Sounders are 1-5-1 in their last seven matches. They should benefit from the return of Dempsey. The team's star forward has been away since May 21 with the U.S. national team, but he is expected to suit up for the Sounders on Saturday.

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid announced Thursday that defender Zach Scott and forward Herculez Gomez will remain with the team after signing contract extensions through the end of the 2016 season. The Sounders are also anticipating the return of Brad Evans (calf) and Chad Marshall (concussion), each of whom missed time last weekend against Toronto FC.