Put the alarm bells away, please. We're not there yet.
Despite having to accept a disappointing 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire in its last match and having only one win in the last four, LAFC still has little to worry about.
Bob Bradley's team still sits atop the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield race. The Black & Gold are home to the best offense and defense in MLS. And they still have an eye-catching +18 goal differential.
So no, it's not time to panic. But that doesn't mean its not high time to get things back in line.
LAFC travel to take on a Columbus Crew team on Saturday that just experienced a rut of its own. After losing five in a row, the Crew finally got back in the win column with a spirited 3-1 win over the Galaxy in midweek. Caleb Porter's men poured a lot into the contest but will be looking to stay on the good side of the ledger in the second of consecutive home matches.
Here are the Toyota Keys to the Match for LAFC's visit to Columbus:
Double Actions
You can't come out of the gates setting record after record in goalscoring and not have teams take notice.
Teams have made adjustments to the way they line up against LAFC. They're getting men behind the ball and being disciplined in their shape. As a result, LAFC hasn't enjoyed the same pockets of space it thrived on to start the year. But those tactics aren't impenetrable.
The best way to create space is through concerted movements and ideas going forward. LAFC players need to be on the same page to open windows for attackers. When one player moves, another needs to work in conjunction with him to create advantages off the ball. If LAFC can create angles through multiple-player movements, they'll find teams unable to react quick enough to close the space.
Transition Moments
When you see a lot of the ball and are on the front foot for long periods, there's always a danger. Teams are happy to soak up pressure and allow LAFC to commit bodies forward in the hopes of unbalancing the Black & Gold.
The Crew has made a habit of sending diagonal balls out to the opposite flank early and often. The ability to exploit a side with one switch of play allows Gyasi Zardes and Federico Higuain to run at defenses and either open space for the winger on the ball and find through passes.
When the ball turns over, LAFC will need to get close to the man on the ball to disrupt that switch of play. While the backline will need to be aware of those moments early in order to slide over to block the path of the onrushing winger.
Discipline In Tracking Higuain
Federico Higuain is one of the smartest off the ball players in MLS.
The creative midfielder has the freedom in the Crew's system to go anywhere he likes on the pitch and he'll often drop to create from deep. It's imperative to get bodies close to him but not get stuck following him wherever he roams.
Higuain is one of the best at little flicks with his back to goal that spring teammates into the space he just vacated. Follow him too closely and he'll simply one-touch around you and then be off to the races.
The best way to counteract his play is by taking up connected positions through midfield that clog passing lanes and not to bite when he goes in search of the ball. In the course of 90 minutes, it can be difficult to show that kind of tactical awareness but LAFC will need to stay focused because it usually takes just one slip for Higuain to exploit opponents.
