The one team in Major League Soccer that everyone is watching right now is the LA Galaxy. With Robbie Keane and Giovani Dos Santos firing on all cylinders up top, the Galaxy seem like they are set to win their sixth MLS Cup in December. 

However, Keane and Dos Santos aren't the only stars putting in impressive work on the pitch of late, as two of their teammates also join them in the MLS Player Rankings after Week 25. 

The other red-hot team in California, the San Jose Earthquakes, also made a splash on the list of the league's top 20 players this week, as both of their forwards entered the list. 

Our player rankings take into account form over the last four matches, with the player's most recent performance holding more stock than the other three. 

Continue reading to see who joined the six stars from the California clubs in the latest MLS Player Rankings.

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When MLS fans check the Supporters' Shield and Western Conference standings, they'll see a familiar sight for the next few days.

The LA Galaxy crushed New York City FC on Sunday to claim the West's top seed. It also passed D.C. United as the top team in MLS.

Week 25 also produced some surprising results that sees three teams tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference. The San Jose Earthquakes are also level with the Seattle Sounders for the West's final playoff spot.

With several matches altering the standings, here are the latest MLS power rankings.

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As playoff desperation began to sink in across Major League Soccer in Week 25, a few clubs decided to make things interesting in the push for the postseason.

Riding the annual wave of Dominic Kinnear late-summer momentum, the San Jose Earthquakes shocked us all by winning two matches on the road against Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United by a combined 7-0.

However, San Jose wasn't the only side in the Western Conference to marvel us with a ridiculous result, as the LA Galaxy plowed past New York City FC 5-1 on Sunday in front of an international audience. 

Due to the magnificent individual performances from both California sides, who meet in the final regular-season California Clasico on Friday night, five players from the two teams earned spots in the latest MLS Team of the Week.

Joining the California-based quintet in our 4-3-3 formation are two superstars of the league and a few defenders who popped out of relative obscurity and delivered strong matches in times of need. 

Continue reading to see who was named to our MLS Team of the Week from Week 25. 

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The LA Galaxy beat New York City FC 5-1 in a star-studded affair to top the standings in the Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield.

A brace from Robbie Keane and goals from Giovani dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget and Gyasi Zardes completed the rout for LA, while David Villa's penalty served only as a consolation for New York.

As ESPN's James Tyler reports, the match was an extremely one-sided affair:

Frank Lampard was the notable absentee from the match, with both sides otherwise fielding strong teams.

Football writer Nick Chavez believed Lampard's absence was a blessing in disguise:

However, New York clearly missed the Englishman's presence, as they were overwhelmingly outplayed by LA, although the midfielder would not likely have saved his side here.

The Eastern side did have the better of the opening exchanges, though, with Andrea Pirlo and Villa linking up well, as the Spaniard registered some early efforts on goal.

LA soon grew into the game and replied with a number of dangerous chances of their own.

Keane's goal-bound strike was deflected out by Jason Hernandez, before Lletget's lob forced a smart save from Josh Saunders. The Irishman threatened again from the resulting corner, rattling the crossbar with a powerful close-range effort.

Lletget had the ball in the net for his side soon after, as he pounced on a rebound following Dos Santos' header, but the goal was correctly deemed offside.

It didn't take long for LA to take a deserved lead, though, with Omar Gonzalez taking advantage of a quick free-kick to feed Keane, whose cross was met by Zardes' head and flew past Saunders.

Galaxy continued to dominate throughout the first half and came close to doubling their tally on several occasions, with OptaJack noting their phenomenal number of shots on goal:

Things went from bad to worse after the restart, however, when Keane grabbed a well-earned goal himself, deftly lifting the ball over the onrushing Saunders after latching onto Dos Santos' inch-perfect pass.

Chavez was full of praise for both players:

The Mexican had one of his own shortly after, as he and Keane linked up yet again, this time in almost a reverse of the previous goal, with Keane the provider and Dos Santos applying the cool finish.

LA ran riot over their helpless opponents again and again throughout the half, carving them open with consummate ease. Tyler took pity on Saunders, whose defence and midfield offered virtually no protection in front of him:

Lletget made it four as he pounced on Steven Gerrard's rebounded shot.

Dan Gargan felled Patrick Mullins to earn New York a penalty on a rare foray up the field for David Villa to duly convert, but no sooner had the goal been celebrated when LA scored once again, Keane grabbing his brace by tapping home Robbie Rogers' low cross.

LA are now top of the Western Conference and face the San Jose Earthquakes in their next match. If they perform anything like they did on Sunday, they will almost certainly come away with three points.

That said, they will hardly play an easier game all season than they did against New York, so expect a somewhat tighter affair.

As for NYC, Columbus Crew will be eagerly anticipating their clash after such an abject display.

Speaking after the game to Sky Sports, Gerrard reiterated his desire to win silverware with his new team. Per BBC Sport, he said: 

"I've come here to win the league. It's all about finishing strong and taking maximum points. It's nice to come out on top and we controlled the majority of the game."

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Los Angeles Galaxy and New York City FC are set to meet for the first time ever at the StubHub Center, but you suspect this will be the first of many classic encounters these two franchises share in Major League Soccer.

Bruce Arena’s Galaxy side are major powerhouses in American soccer, boasting an array of star names, super organisation and a winning mentality. The New York new boys certainly have the former after some exceptional recent acquisitions, but in the embryonic stage of their existence as a football club, are still striving for the latter two.

Nonetheless, it’s a game that could have major connotations on the fortunes of both sides as the playoffs creep closer into view. Here’s all the key viewing details for this enticing contest and a closer examination of both teams before the action gets underway.

Date: Sunday, August 23

Time: Noon (Local), 3 p.m. (ET), 8 p.m. (BST)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), WatchESPN (US)

TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), ESPN (US)

There aren’t many games in MLS that will command quite as much attention worldwide as this one. The two cities involved are notorious for their sporting pedigree, the supporters of each will provide a stellar backdrop and the stakes are extremely high.

Galaxy go into the match as favourites. They lead the Western Conference ahead of the round of fixtures and have won their previous three games in succession. A 2-1 victory over FC Dallas was hard earned last time out, but they showcased the gnarly qualities that helped them to glory last season.

In Robbie Keane, LA have a striker who is well in form too. As we can see here courtesy of OptaJack, the veteran forward seems to be adding new traits to his game, even in the twilight of his career:

Indeed, six goals in his last four matches is a testament to Keane’s evergreen goalscoring instincts. With the likes of Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard supplying the bullets, expect the Irishman to cause plenty of problems for a New York defence that has looked a little ropey.

The visitors will fancy their chances of causing their own attacking problems, though. David Villa has been superb throughout the campaign with 14 goals to this point, but there have been some indications that he’s beginning to strike up an understanding with new signing Andrea Pirlo—this pass and finish being the most notable, per 101 Great Goals:

But for all their illustrious names, which include Villa, Pirlo, Andoni Iraola and Frank Lampard—who is a doubt for this match with an injury problem—it’s young midfielder Kwadwo Poku who has been grabbing the headlines for the debut franchise in recent outings.

The Ghanaian bagged a wonderful brace in the 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew, making it three goals and four assists in his last five matches. Here’s a snapshot of his superb performance last time out, in which there were some sumptuous link-ups with Villa and Pirlo, per MLS expert Ben Jata:

There skeleton is there for New York to become a very capable team. Younger players seem galvanised by the presence of some icons of the game and going forward, they are as good as any side in MLS. But they still lack a little bit of balance that’d see them cause major problems for the top teams.

Galaxy are certainly the real deal and, ominously for the rest of the league, seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. Don’t expect any compromise from the hosts when it comes to their attacking intentions in this one, and while that may mean they'll leak a couple of goals at the back, they’ll have enough to emerge victorious in a thriller.

Prediction: Los Angeles Galaxy 4-2 New York City FC

All statistics via WhoScored.com.

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The Chicago Fire were once a powerhouse in Major League Soccer. Chicago won the MLS Cup in its first season in 1998 and finished twice as the runner-up in 2000 and 2003.

Now, the Fire are languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They're also the only team without a road win in 2015. It is easily the most sorry franchise in the league.

To make matters worse, Chicago's prized offseason acquisition, Shaun Maloney, is nearing a move to Hull City in the English Championship. Head coach Frank Yallop (via Orrin Schwarz of the Daily Herald) confirmed that a deal was close:

Maloney left for personal reasons because of the "setup not being right," according to sports agency Global Premier Management:

The Scotland international scored three goals and recorded two assists in 14 appearances with Fire. Maloney missed some matches due to injury and international call-ups.

Despite Maloney's short stint with the Fire, he's still tied for sixth in appearances among Chicago designated players, per U.S. Soccer's Jeff Crandall:

Ever since Cuauhtemoc Blanco left Chicago, the Fire have struggled to find a DP who can produce. David Accam could buck the trend. The forward has six goals in 14 appearances and is still just 24 years old.

However, Accam is proving to be the only smart signing. Maloney's imminent departure will free up a DP slot and some cap space, but it's highly likely that the Fire will make another underwhelming signing.

The fans are clearly fed up with the average acquisitions and mediocrity. Supporters are protesting Andrew Hauptman's ownership of the team and are growing restless.

Since Hauptman bought the team in 2007, Chicago hasn't won a major trophy and has missed the playoffs four out of the last five years. It appears as if the Fire will miss the postseason again.

Considering the size of the market and the past success of the Fire, they're in an awful state. Hauptman's net worth is not publicized, but the Chicago Fire are worth around $160 million, per Forbes. The team ranks seventh in MLS.

The Fire are worth more than the likes of the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution. The operating income is in the red, which indicates mismanagement.

However, if the Vancouver Whitecaps can spend wisely on designated players despite being the 16th most valuable franchise, the Fire can as well.

Before Pedro Morales signed a contract extension, he was earning about $1.4 million in guaranteed compensation, per the MLS Players Union. Maloney made nearly $1.6 million.

Yallop is also the director of soccer, meaning he has input on personnel decisions. It's safe to say that he hasn't excelled in either role so far. Trevor James, the head of scouting, has been underwhelming as well.

However, the Fire have talented players: Goalkeeper Sean Johnson is a reliable No. 1, Jeff Larentowicz and Joevin Jones have been solid defenders, Rookie Matt Polster has been tremendous in central midfield, Harry Shipp is the crown jewel of the academy and Accam has proven to be a formidable signing.

Spending big money isn't the answer, though.

Teams need lower-paid players coupled with those marquee signings. There also needs to be a clear philosophy in place with a coach who can carry out the plan.

Sporting Kansas City has done this thanks to analytics. Vancouver and FC Dallas utilized their homegrown signings and South American scouting to build strong teams.

Peter Vermes, Carl Robinson and Oscar Pareja have turned their respective teams into realistic MLS Cup contenders despite limited resources. Vancouver, SKC and Dallas rank eighth, ninth and 19th in guaranteed compensation, per ESPN FC.

Yallop doesn't seem capable of following this ideology anymore.

The 51-year-old's tactics have been dull, especially on the road. The Fire have scored just 11 times and have allowed 22 away from home. They look bereft of ideas in the final third whenever they're outside of Toyota Park.

On the other hand, Hauptman chose Yallop over Frank Klopas, who was fired despite a record of 34 wins, 17 draws and 25 losses. Klopas was also the last coach to lead the Fire to the playoffs.

Every successful business starts at the top. This Maloney saga is proof that ownership and those in charge of personnel aren't competent enough to bring glory back to Chicago.

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Major League Soccer never fails to dramatically entertain fans due to the parity across the league. This allows small-market teams to compete with the big spenders in MLS.

However, these smaller sides may face stiff competition from the reloaded LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders once the playoffs begin.

On the other hand, neither LA nor Seattle is on top of the Supporters' Shield standings. That honor belongs to D.C. United.

D.C. has played more games than any other side in the Eastern Conference, but it still deserves its success.

United has topped the league thanks to its balanced attack and stingy defending. Chris Rolfe has a team-leading nine goals. Fourteen players have scored at least once.

D.C.'s 29 goals conceded is the fifth-lowest amount in MLS. Considering it has played more matches than the other teams ranked below United in this category, that's an impressive feat.

Goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been key to the defensive accomplishments. Hamid was developed in the team's academy and has been compared to current U.S. men's national team stalwart Tim Howard. He’s also drawn interest from European clubs in the past.

Center back Steve Birnbaum and full-backs Taylor Kemp and Chris Korb were chosen in previous SuperDrafts. Midfielders Perry Kitchen and Nick DeLeon were also selected.

The entire D.C. squad earns about $4.3 million in annual salary. Nine individual players earn more money by themselves.

Sporting Kansas City is also thriving without any big games. U.S. international center back Matt Besler is a former first-round pick. Amadou Dia and Saad Abdul-Salaam were also selected at the SuperDraft.

Fellow defender Kevin Ellis was signed to a homegrown player contract. Current No. 1 goalkeeper Tim Melia had played just six MLS games prior to the 2015 campaign. He's started 14 games this year alone and has conceded just 13 goals.

Benny Feilhaber was traded to Sporting from the New England Revolution. He now leads the league in assists and has won an MLS Cup.

Honduras international midfielder Roger Espinoza was drafted by SKC, as was forward Dom Dwyer, who scored 22 goals last season.

Journeyman forward and Hungary international Krisztian Nemeth has also turned heads. The winger has a respectable eight goals and five assists in 19 appearances in 2015. He's still just 26 years old.

In total, SKC is paying its players about $5.6 million a year.

The Vancouver Whitecaps have built their squad through astute signings in Central and South America. Ten players hail from Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.

Arguably the most important player for the Whitecaps is Argentinean midfielder Matias Laba. The 23-year-old was acquired from Toronto FC for a "fee," per Michael McColl on the official MLS website.

Laba is now MLS' leading tackler with 5.2 per game, via WhoScored.com. The ex-Argentina U20 international would be able to help a TFC team that has conceded 41 goals this season.

Pedro Morales, MLS' Newcomer of the Year in 2014, was bought from Malaga prior to last season. He has scored 15 goals and recorded 16 assists since last season.

Vancouver's Costa Rican center back Kendall Waston is equally important. The 27-year-old is a physical, commanding defender who is strong in the air and reads the game incredibly well.

Veterans such as Pa-Modou Kah, Steven Beitashour and Jordan Harvey are also key contributors on the back line. Draft picks like Tim Parker and Christian Dean have also impressed on defense. 

The Whitecaps also put extra emphasis on youth. Head coach Carl Robinson has given valuable minutes to midfielder Russell Teibert and full-back Sam Adekugbe.

ESPN Mexico, via the official MLS website, claims that Vancouver is the youngest MLS team with an average squad age of 24.3 years.

The Whitecaps are spending just above $6 million on annual salaries. It's slightly above Sporting KC's number, but it's significantly lower than TFC ($22.7 million) and the Galaxy ($19.4 million).

FC Dallas is also succeeding with a blend of youth and experience on its roster.

Fabian Castillo is one of the most dangerous forwards in MLS at just 23 years old. His blistering speed and scoring touch make him a threat in every game. The Colombian already has eight goals and six assists.

Victor Ulloa is one of many bright homegrown talents in Dallas' squad. The 23-year-old has made 52 appearances since the 2014 season. He's a well-rounded midfielder who can defend and transition the play forward for counterattacks.

Argentinean playmaker Mauro Diaz has struggled with injuries, but now that he's healthy, he's thriving. The 24-year-old has five goals and six assists in 18 appearances, which is a career high for him.

Like Vancouver, Dallas relied on its academy, the SuperDraft and Latin America for its key contributors. The Hoops' annual salary of around $4 million is the second-lowest amount in MLS.

Other teams like the Columbus Crew ($4.9 million) and New England Revolution ($6.5 million) are making noise in the Eastern Conference. Those sides are third and fourth place, respectively.

Once the playoffs begin, it will be a clean slate. Seattle is unlikely to lose eight out of nine games again. However, both Vancouver and Sporting have beaten the Sounders this season.

The Whitecaps are still the only team to have gone into the StubHub Center and win against LA. Vancouver has the best road record in MLS with seven wins, two draws and five losses. No one else in the league has more than four victories away from home.

Regardless, LA has to be the favorite. Not only are the Galaxy the defending champions, they have a plethora of scoring threats. Giovani dos Santos is gaining chemistry by the day with his new Galaxy teammates. Reigning MVP Robbie Keane has scored 11 goals in his last eight games. 

The Sounders and TFC will be threats with their clinical attackers. However, they're two of the biggest spenders in MLS. If they don't attain some form of success this season, it will be a disappointment.

New York City FC missing the playoffs would be a huge disappointment with its investment of nearly $18 million a year in player wages.

It's not necessary to acquire big-name stars in order to win titles. Even the New York Red Bulls have shifted from this method. They now spend the fewest amount in yearly salary out of any MLS team.

The Galaxy may have won three of the last four MLS Cups, but SKC triumphed in 2013 over another small market in Real Salt Lake. RSL was the champion in 2009 and Columbus won it all the year before in 2008.

The defensive organization, fast-paced attacks and insightful coaches make D.C., Vancouver, SKC and Dallas four viable MLS Cup contenders.

Any of these sides can achieve success, but they'll have to get by the intelligent Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena first.

Unless otherwise noted, all team and player salaries via ESPN FC and the MLS Players Union.

Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @GalindoPW.

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There is perhaps no greater compliment to a New Yorker than to create a sandwich in his or her honour.

And it's taken New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo just over a month to have that honour bestowed upon him.

New York specialty sandwich shop No. 7 Sub, in conjunction with Howler, has created "The Pirlo" in tribute to the Italian maestro.

Naturally, the sandwich contains several typical Mediterranean ingredients, including salami, fried zucchini and mozzarella as well as the slightly random inclusion of pickled blueberries.

The only problem? The spelling.

No Prilo? No Praty?

[h/t Who Ate All The Pies]

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With so many world-class scorers gracing the pitches of Major League Soccer, every top-notch forward must be able to produce in every single match for their respective side.

One player who is more than capable of doing just that is the LA Galaxy's Robbie Keane, who has been superb since his return from injury in June. Keane again bagged a brace for Bruce Arena's side in Week 24, which led to him retaking the top spot in the MLS Player Rankings. 

Below Keane on the list of the league's top 20 players are a trio of New York Red Bulls stars in the top 10 and three new entrants who have flown under the radar recently. 

Our player rankings take into account form over the last four matches with the player's most recent performance holding more stock than the other three. 

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Week 24 in MLS was jam-packed with entertainment like Sporting Kansas City's incredible comeback or the Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire game, and there was no shortage of storylines.

The Seattle Sounders also returned to winning ways by crushing Orlando City SC. The Sounders will certainly move up this week in the MLS power rankings and a few others will rise as well.

With the Vancouver Whitecaps losing to SKC, coupled with wins by the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, this will affect the top five this week.

Here are the latest MLS power rankings.

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