Steven Gerrard scores in MLS debut, Galaxy rout Quakes 5

The Liverpool legend was still upstaged by former Reds striker and LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane, who scored an impressive hat-trick in his side’s 5-2 win. The ball found Keane who beat Fatai Alashe to the spot and the reigning MLS Player of the Year flicked the ball past the unsuspecting keeper.

Gerrard left Liverpool in May after making more than 700 appearances for the club.

The Irishman completed the hat-trick with a second penalty in the 80th minute, and Sebastian Liguet sealed the deal with a headed finish in the 92nd. I’m salivating at the thought of seeing Gerrard lineup alongside Keane, Zardes and dos Santos.

“I had two good chances”, said Gerrard.

The second half was all Galaxy. The Galaxy dodged a bullet early when Quincy Amarikwa got behind the LA defense, but Brian Rowe stayed on his feet long enough to collapse low and make the stop.

But nothing captured the night quite like Gerrard’s first Galaxy goal, coming off Baggio Husidic’s ball into the box, set up by Keane. “Last 20, 25 minutes of the first half got better. Unfortunately, we were unable to do that tonight”.

But the fightback would begin on the half-hour as Keane and Gerrard combined as they had threatened to throughout.

The idea of what Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane might achieve in tandem was most tantalizing for the LA Galaxy and their fans, but the reality looks even greater.

‘It’s a tough league, no easy games and it’s very competitive and the players work hard. He’s the MVP [in MLS]. “I’m starting to feel a little bit sharper, I’m very close to full fitness”, Gerrard was quoted as saying by bbc.co.uk after the match. “I’m really happy. Sitting here, I’m happy with the level”. I feel very confident and happy with my teammates.

“Bruce was shouting ‘How are you doing?’ and I kept looking away pretending not to hear him”, Gerrard said.

“One of the reasons why I came to this team was to start all the games”.

Steven Gerrard admits he wasn’t interested in being a “squad player at Liverpool”. I fell like I’ve still got energy.

And it’s only the start. “It’s up to us”, Keane said. Gerrard got an assist as well and LA won 5-2, after hitting the crossbar for good measure.