STUB HUB CENTER, LOS ANGELES—Steven Gerrard made his Los Angeles Galaxy debut in their friendly match against Club America of Mexico on Saturday evening.

Gerrard played the opening 45 minutes of the International Champions Cup game, which ended in a 2-1 win for the Englishman's new club.

The visit of the Mexican side to Southern California meant for a lively atmosphere on Gerrard's first outing in America and there was a sense of anticipation around the stadium ahead of the marquee player's debut.

The 35-year-old showed a few signs of nerves and rustiness early on, but he grew into the game and began to dictate the play—making more passes and having more touches than any other Galaxy player during the opening 45.

The former Liverpool captain lined up alongside diminutive Brazilian Juninho in Galaxy's midfield, with head coach Bruce Arena having explained this week that the pair will work in tandem but that Gerrard "needs to be a little bit closer to goal."

After Club America took an early lead through Carlos Quintero in the seventh minute, Gerrard and his team-mates initially looked somewhat shell-shocked and a miscommunication between the Englishman and his new team-mate, Galaxy centre-back Leonardo, almost let the visiting side in for a second goal.

But as the nerves dissipated, Gerrard began to exert his influence more and had two opportunities shortly after the 20-minute mark—the second of which was only denied via a good save from the Club America 'keeper Hugo Gonzalez.

Gerrard burst from midfield, linked well to receive the ball back from Jose Villarreal, before hitting a half volley that looked destined to open his account for his new side. Had it been on his right rather than left foot, it surely would have burst the net.

There were some oohs and aahs as Gerrard showcased his trademark driven balls to switch play with ease and accuracy. Galaxy fans will be excited to see the new man in full flow—and against sides in regular MLS play that won't be as strong as Club America. 

The final word of the opening half was left to Gerrard's captain, Robbie Keane, who expertly controlled a long ball to outwit both the 'keeper and an opposing defender to beautifully control the ball then slot into the open net.

We can't get enough of this Robbie Keane goal. #ICC2015 pic.twitter.com/mv34kiGPnu

Gerrard departed at half-time with the scores level, having showed enough signs that he will revel in his role at a new club.

It may take some time—and a lot of patience—to adapt to a new style of play and new team-mates who perhaps aren't always on the same wavelength, but Gerrard will get what he wanted; regular playing time as the main man in midfield.

Gerrard admitted to some rustiness post-match, saying: "I haven’t played a competitive match for six or seven weeks so it was very important that I got out there and got 45 minutes."

"For me personally, it was good to get 45 minutes under my belt and I’ll keep getting better and better and the more I get used to my team-mates, I’ll improve."

Arena praised Gerrard's performance: "Steven played well, his passing was very good, his partnership with Juninho was good."

Arena noted Gerrard's leadership and said that he thinks he is "about a month [away from full match fitness]."

Gerrard will make his MLS bow for Galaxy in their match at home to San Jose Earthquakes on Friday night, although Arena said he would wait to asses him ahead of the U.S. Open Cup tie at Real Salt Lake on Tuesday night, which would provide his competitive debut and first "road trip" with his new team.

Quotes obtained firsthand/via LA Galaxy. Stats provided by ICC at stadium.

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Los Angeles Galaxy opened their International Champions Cup foray vs. Club America with a 2-1 victory.

After a brilliant opening goal from CF America's Darwin Quintero, playing on the edge of the Galaxy's defensive line, then scoring through Brian Rowe's legs—Los Angeles battled back.

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane leveled the scoreline, after a sublime first touch in the 45th minute; beating both his defender and the goalkeeper in one motion, the MLS MVP rolled the ball into an empty net.

Reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane draws the Galaxy level with a first-class touch and finish. #ICConFOX http://t.co/DpVg2NojEY

After a massive wave of eight new Galaxy players at halftime, the game stalled in the second half, but Alan Gordon gave Bruce Arena's side a 79th-minute winner—using his head to great effect, lobbing Club America keeper Hugo Gonzalez.

The friendly had drama, and that would have been the main story, but the reason people came was to see ex-Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard. Making his debut for the Galaxy, the 35-year-old central midfielder looked his usual composed self in his opening half of North American football.

What Gerrard needs now is time—time to find rapport with his new team-mates, time to find fitness and time to find his scoring boots in a new environment.

At Anfield, especially under Brendan Rodgers, the Merseyside product went prolonged periods without scoring from open play, so expecting him to find 20 goals with the Galaxy is wholly unrealistic; what he must do, however, is score the goals on offer.

His best chance to open his L.A. account (even if during a glorified exhibition match) came in the 22nd minute. Whilst one-on-one with Gonzalez from about 10 yards—after a bursting run into the penalty area—Gerrard smacked his shot into the Mexican keeper and looked disgusted in himself for failing to register.

Given time, opportunities such as that will find the back of American nets, but for now, match fitness should be Gerrard's No. 1 priority. Not playing a competitive game since his final Liverpool appearance on 24 May vs. Stoke City, the 35-year-old's body will need an acclimation period, and playing against arguably North America's best footballing side in Club America (who are in pre-season) was a stern and much-needed test.

So then, what can we take away from this 2015 International Champions Cup opener? Three things.

First: Club America are a dangerous counter-attacking outfit, who—even when not at full strength—have the technical skill and pace to cause many teams problems.

Second: Robbie Keane is probably a wizard of some sort. His first touch to score was magic. It would have beaten the planet's best defenders were they on hand.

Third: Steven Gerrard—anytime he steps on a football pitch—is a quality operator. The Liverpool legend will succeed in Los Angeles once he begins to play regularly, learn his team-mates' tendencies and find his legs.

Follow @danieltiluk

*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.

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After all the anticipation, Frank Lampard will not be making his MLS debut for New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday against Toronto.

The Chelsea legend has been ruled out after picking up an injury, per Bleacher Report UK:

However, Jason Kreis' side—who currently sit just outside of the play-off places in the Eastern Conference—can still be confident of claiming all three points, having won four of their last five matches after a terrible start to the season. 

Toronto, though, lie two places and three points ahead of City, and they will provide a stiff challenge. Read on for a full preview of an intriguing clash, along with scheduling and television details. 

Date: Sunday, July 12

Time: 3 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. BST

TV Info: Live on ESPN (US) and Sky Sports 1 (UK)

Live Stream: WatchESPN, Sky Go

Preview

Kreis' side made a shocking start to the MLS season, as they won just one of their first 13 matches.

However, they have had a pick-up in form of late, with one of their four recent victories a 2-0 win against Toronto in Canada in June.

On that occasion, David Villa scored both goals, and the Spaniard will be vital again in attack on Sunday.

Villa is in great form, having scored five in four matches, and he will be relishing the opportunity to face Toronto once again on home soil.

Lampard has spoken of his eagerness to eventually be playing alongside Villa—as well as future arrival Andrea Pirlo—and rightly so, as the 33-year-old is on fire, per the Champions League:

City have scored 20 goals in 18 matches so far this season, 10 of them coming in their last five matches, and they will hope to keep that form going.

Toronto's defence likely breathed a sigh of relief on hearing of Lampard's injury, but they are still in for a tough day at the office on Sunday.

City's own defence has been poor, as they have conceded 23 goals and have kept just two clean sheets. The arrival of Spanish defenders Andoni Iraola and Angelino could prove valuable, with the former's experience potentially very important.

While New York City FC look like a team on the up, Toronto head to Yankee Stadium in mixed form. They have won just one of their last four, most recently losing 4-0 to LA Galaxy.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup has seen them deprived of four key players, with midfielder Michael Bradley, forward Jozy Altidore, midfielder Jonathan Osorio and left-back Ashtone Morgan all away on international duty.

The goalscoring onus now falls on Sebastian Giovinco, who has had the sight of goal often this season, per WhoScored.com. However, he has only netted once in his four most recent appearances:

The Italian will surely need to be on target on Sunday if the Canadian outfit are to have a chance of prevailing in the Big Apple. 

City's recent form gives them the edge ahead of the Yankee Stadium clash, and the home fans will be eager to see their team record another victory.

The New York defence will have to be wary of the threat offered by Giovinco, but Villa could prove the game winner for the hosts. 

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International duty has done little to quell the action surrounding Major League Soccer, with a six-match slate getting ready to flood DraftKings lobbies with contests for Saturday.

Some of the household names are absent from squads, but that can just open the door for another player to shine. Usual stat-dominating clubs like Toronto FC, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps are missing from the schedule, but options are boundless for DraftKings glory. Take a look below at the best picks of the matchday.  

F: Fanendo Adi, Portland Timbers ($8,500) and Anatole Abang, New York Red Bulls ($6,100) 

Call it a coincidence or a recipe for fantasy explosion, but Fanendo Adi is recently removed from a two-goal, 29-point outburst and gets ready to visit the league's worst defense. The Philadelphia Union have conceded a league-worst 32 goals, and they look bound to take on a few more with Adi set to shine again. 

New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips isn't a heady buy as the most expensive option of the day, but Anatole Abang could produce some fantasy production from the Red Bulls attack. With a starting nod on July 4, Abang put up 16 DK points with his third goal of the season. Saturday's opponent, New England, have been outscored by six goals in their last four matches.

M: Kaka, Orlando City ($10,600) and Ignacio Piatti, Montreal Impact ($7,800)

It takes a lot of confidence to throw five figures at a DraftKings option, but Kaka has proven—and will prove—worth the investment. The Orlando City star has two goals on seven shots (five on target) just in his last 135 minutes on the pitch, and his 11.7 DK points average top midfielders. Saturday's opponent, FC Dallas, are red hot at the moment, but that will only bring out his best as he racks up double digits for the sixth time in eight outings.

If you took Ignacio Piatti last week like I recommended, he just might have won your contest singlehandedly with his 23 points—a second-consecutive 20-point outburst. He's averaging over 12 points per contest in his last 10 matches and should continue shredding opposing midfields at home to Columbus. 

D: Ambroise Oyongo, Montreal ($4,000) and Sheanon Williams, Philadelphia ($3,500)

Ambroise Oyongo has a chance to be an attacking presence Saturday for a Montreal club thin on such help, and he's proven serviceable in that area lately with his first goal of the season June 24 against Toronto. Averaging more than one shot per contest and getting crosses into the area, Oyongo could blow his value out of the water.

Philadelphia's Sheanon Williams will be an even cheaper option who has perhaps an even better chance to break out, judging from his 18-point outing in his last start against Seattle. He'll produce the crosses necessary to be well worth his value.

GK: Jeff Attinella, Real Salt Lake ($4,700)

Nick Rimando is backing up the U.S. men's national team goalkeeper spot in the Gold Cup, which has opened the door for Jeff Attinella to get his hands dirty. He made three saves and only allowed one goal last weekend to Orlando City, giving him an average of 10 DK points per appearance.

Attinella will face a Colorado Rapids team that just broke a 12-match span in which they scored just one goal or less. He's almost assured to get bonus points for only allowing one goal or keeping the clean sheet.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLS contests with thousands in prizes. Claim your free entry by clicking here and making a first-time deposit!

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Twenty years ago, it would have been virtually impossible to imagine an American soccer player like Gyasi Zardes sprinting down the left side of a Dutch soccer field, outpacing defenders and making a difficult goal look like a simple tap-in to start the scoring for the United States men’s national team in what would become a furious 4-3 comeback win against the Netherlands.

Zardes, simply put, is an athlete. With a perfect blend of speed, agility and determination, he is a menace when racing up and down the sideline. His first touch is a revelation, blending spin moves and quick turns typically seen in the NBA Finals onto the grass soccer fields rapidly emerging across the country.

It’s not that Zardes would have lacked the ability or work ethic. When he was growing up in Hawthorne, California, that was never in question.

"I always wanna work hard, and that’s always been my motto," Zardes told Bleacher Report. "I’m from Hawthorne, and people from Hawthorne work hard."

That’s not just his opinion. You might have heard of another hardworking young baller from Hawthorne by the name of Russell Westbrook. Back in 2011, Westbrook's dad shared this story of Russ' childhood drive with Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman: "He said, 'Dad, I know it's Thanksgiving. But I want to shoot. Let's go shoot.' I looked at my wife. I looked at Ray. I said, 'Let's go shoot.' And we put it in like it was a normal day."

You can probably imagine a young Westbrook putting his head down, manically charging up court for one of his coast-to-coast dunks. Add a blonde mohawk for a bit of flair, and you’re not too far away from the presence Zardes brings to the field.

That kind of intensity, combined with gifted athleticism, usually leads to success one way or another; it’s simply inconceivable that Zardes would have turned down football offers from Penn State, Oregon State and Boise State so he could work at Jamba Juice in order to afford playing soccer at Cal State Bakersfield.

But as Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia can attest, times have certainly changed. The USMNT is no longer a punchline. Instead, with a growing, athletic talent pool, young American soccer players are punching back. 

Stop me if you’ve heard something like this before: "If the U.S. had guys like Allen Iverson playing soccer, we’d be the best in the world."

Janusz Michallik, a Polish-American soccer player who was a part of the early-'90s national teams that reinvigorated America’s passion for the beautiful game and is covering the Gold Cup for Fox Sports, certainly does.

"In my days, sort of the mantra was that [the USMNT] didn’t get the best athletes," Michallik told Bleacher Report.

Michallik doesn’t necessarily think it’s all that different today—after all, the Kyrie Irvings and Todd Gurleys of America still typically choose to play basketball and football—but the potential for that to change has never been more tangible.

When Michallik came over to the U.S., several soccer leagues had already folded, including the United Soccer Association, the North American Soccer League (which has since mounted a comeback), the United Soccer League, the Western Soccer Alliance and several others. By the time Michallik was ready to play professionally, the only option was an indoor league. The thought of a soccer-specific stadium was a fantasy.

"You could understand why someone would choose to play other sports because there was no league, no way to make a living," Michallik said. 

Fast-forward to 2015, and the landscape is entirely different.

"The progress is incredible," Michallik said. "If you told me in 20 years that MLS was gonna have the kind of players like [Andrea] Pirlo and [Frank] Lampard, along with so many soccer-specific stadiums and some players were earning $5 million or $6 million per year, I don’t think I would have believed that."

Though the success of MLS can be attributed to a number of different factors, none allowed the league to develop talent more than the homegrown player rule. Established in 2008, the rule allowed teams to sign players directly from their youth clubs instead of forcing them to go through the MLS draft, where any team could sign them.

Finally, teams had a financial incentive to invest in their youth teams to develop talent instead of waiting for it to come along.

Enter Gyasi Zardes.

After leading the Los Angeles Galaxy's U-20 side to a championship in 2010 while redshirting for his college squad, Zardes erupted with 23 goals in his last 39 games for Cal State. His dominance took them to their first-ever NCAA Division I tournament appearance. Shortly after, in December 2012, the Galaxy signed Zardes as a homegrown player, and he scored his first goal in his third game.

Zardes hasn’t looked back since.

He surveyed the scene in his first season before blowing up in Year 2, scoring 16 league goals. That total was sixth-best overall and set a new scoring record for homegrown players. In what was the biggest game of his career, Zardes became the first homegrown player to score a goal in the MLS Cup when he kept his balance amid a deflection and flying defenders to find the net, helping secure the Galaxy’s third title in four seasons.

Entering 2015 with a target on his back, Zardes didn’t shy away. He debuted for the national team against Chile when he came on for Clint Dempsey in the 68th minute of a 3-2 loss. Zardes was ready a few days later against Panama, earning his first start while wreaking havoc upon defenders throughout the game.

One brilliant run completely opened up Panama’s defense, allowing Zardes to slide a beautiful pass to Dempsey, who promptly gave the U.S. an insurmountable two-goal lead.

His impact was felt once again in two June friendlies against the Netherlands and Germany. Zardes’ speed on the wing was a nightmare for the Dutch defenders, leaving players in his dust like a 2009 Chris Johnson. His composed goal opened the scoring for the USMNT and afforded the team a glimmer of hope when it went down 3-1 early in the second half.

What proceeded was an onslaught rarely, if ever, seen from a U.S. soccer team, which channeled free-flowing aggression into a magnificent 4-3 comeback victory.

While the goal contributed toward the only stat line that really matters in soccer, his pace created space for midfielders like Michael Bradley and Mix Diskerud to find angles and pass the ball upfield. Opponents have to respect his speed, and you could see Dutch defenders tracking back to make sure they didn’t get burned on counterattacks. It’s a subtle difference that creates a world of opportunity.

It was clear five days later that the boys weren’t satisfied with one magnificent win, as Zardes and company knocked off defending world champions Germany, 2-1, on their own turf. 

With confidence from his national team performances, Zardes flexed all over the Philadelphia Union in one of his last MLS games before the Gold Cup began July 7. Toying with defenders, Zardes flashed up and down the wing, hit the post once, set up two goals and finished with a classic goal of his own by out-sprinting the entire Union defense despite a 20-yard head start.

The Galaxy went home with a 5-1 victory, and Zardes was named the MLS Player of the Week after he spent half the game with a defender trailing so far behind that you had to wonder if the entire defensive line had lame hamstrings.

Perhaps the most incredible aspect of Zardes’ ascension is that he’s not even playing his natural position. Preferring to play a central role, Zardes is often forced to play on the wing because of his sheer speed and athletic ability. Michallik says this will only improve his game.

"He’s an athlete, he’s physical, and I think he’s grown technically, but he’s still improving there," Michallik said. "But he’s got all the attributes a soccer player needs, and he will become even better tactically by learning to play on both sides of the ball."

Though his performances and blonde mohawk command the spotlight, Zardes isn’t the only young American putting the world on notice. Lined up next to DeAndre Yedlin, Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris—not to mention stalwarts like Jozy Altidore and Bradley and European imports like Julian Green, Diskerud and Fabian Johnson—the young crop of athletic Americans signifies a new era for the USMNT.

"It’s definitely a sign of youth soccer and how it’s been beneficial for the American game and the MLS, so we kinda wanna be poster boys for the future of the game moving forward," said 18-year-old Galaxy teammate and fellow homegrown player Bradford Jamieson, who scored his first professional goal in his second start against the New York Red Bulls this season.

"There’s a lot of momentum, and I think there’s a lot of guys besides Gyasi and I that are young talents."

Even scarier for the rest of the world? Zardes is just getting started, according to his Galaxy and USMNT teammate, Omar Gonzalez.

"It’s hard going up against him at practice because sometimes I’m tired, and he never lets up," Gonzalez, a central defender, told Bleacher Report. "He always wants to go more, always wants to get more reps shooting with the coaches, always wants to improve his game, and it’s great to see in a young guy. …If he keeps working like that, he’s going to be great for years to come."

That work will continue at this year’s Gold Cup, which is perhaps primed to be the most competitive that it’s ever been, according to Michallik. It's typically seen as a tournament between Mexico and the USMNT; Costa Rica, Honduras and Jamaica will all throw up their hands in objection, given recent results—particularly following Costa Rica’s spectacular run to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup.

If it’s any indication, both the USMNT and Mexico are taking jacked squads into the tourney. Despite the dazzling performances of the young guns in recent friendlies, USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann opted for a veteran-heavy lineup for the Gold Cup, though he inevitably found room for Zardes.

At this point, despite his youth, Zardes appears to be a mainstay on the USMNT. Like with Reggie Bush’s freshman year at USC, it would be irresponsible to leave such a talent off the field, despite the growing pains. A player like Zardes gets better every time he plays the game, always increasing his technique, timing and first touch. He provides a consistent game-changing threat. 

He is the kind of player American soccer fans have been waiting for.

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If any competition signals the beginning of a new season, the International Champions Cup (ICC) has surely taken that particular mantle.

Hailing from the World Football Challenge (2009-2012), the past two pre-seasons have witnessed true European giants take their campaign's first steps on North American soil. Real Madrid were the inaugural winners of the ICC in 2013, followed by Manchester United last summer.

We’re partnering with the @IntChampionsCup to bring all your team’s pre-season news. Download! http://t.co/1C7yB74arZ pic.twitter.com/9pc11Hiua9

This year, the tournament has expanded further; more heavyweights are planning to indulge spectators in four continents and seven countries over the next 25 days.

It begins with the MLS' Los Angeles Galaxy hosting Liga MX's Club America on July 11.

Date: Saturday, July 11 (United States) / Sunday, July 12 (United Kingdom)

Time: 11:30 p.m. EST/4:30 a.m. BST

Venue: StubHub Center, Carson, California

TV Info: Fox Sports 1 / Sky Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go (USA only) / Sky Go (UK only)

Form Line 

Starting XI's 

#LAGalaxy XI: Rowe; Gargan, DLG, Leonardo, Dunivant; Husidic, Juninho, Gerrard, Lletget; Villarreal, Keane #ICC2015 pic.twitter.com/2qKE19otJU

11 #Águila vs @LAGalaxy: Gonzalez, Burón, Pimentel, Goltz, Mares, Guerrero, Rivera, Andrade, Sambueza, Quintero y Arroyo #ICC2015

Player to Watch 

Steven Gerrard is scheduled to make his debut for LA Galaxy in the International Champions Cup, according to the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle, and more than a few around the planet will be tuning in just to see the Liverpool legend.

He is set to appear in a sizable cameo, reported to be around one half. The 35-year-old Englishman has only been seen in a Liverpool shirt at club level; getting used to Gerrard in a colour other than Anfield's red should take longer than 45 minutes—if the feat is even possible.

Figuring out new team-mates, finding fitness and acclimating to southern Californian weather, Gerrard's first LA Galaxy outing should be one to remember.

Key Battle 

In Gerrard's first match for the Galaxy, the rekindled partnership with former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic forward Robbie Keane pitted against Club America's back four is the primary matchup to watch.

The Mexican outfit have not played a competitive match since May 17, whereas Los Angeles are in the midst of the 2015 MLS season. To make matters worse, some of America's key footballers—primarily centre-forward Oribe Peralta and right-back Paul Aguilar—are with Mexico at the 2015 Gold Cup.

As CF America are without a key individual up top, but more importantly in their defence, the British Isle connection between Gerrard and Keane (which had less than one season at Anfield) could receive a timely jump-start.

Follow @danieltiluk

*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.

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Steven Gerrard is set to make his debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, and the most famous player in the team's history wants the club's fans to know just how big a deal it is. 

David Beckham posted a picture of the former Liverpool captain on his Instagram page on Friday with a message that read: 

Big day for LA GALAXY tomorrow .. To have a player joining the team and club with this much passion and talent can only bring more success and excitement to the city of LA... The fans are going to enjoy this time ....

Gerrard will make his Galaxy bow in the team's match against Club America in the International Champions Cup on Saturday.

[Instagram: @davidbeckham]

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Steven Gerrard may be one of the most celebrated names in English football, but the Liverpool legend is in Los Angles now. 

In Southern California, where the silver screen rules and there's a bazillion other professional franchises, it's already been proved that most Angelenos don't know who Gerrard is. 

But a photographer assigned to cover Gerrard at the Los Angeles Galaxy? That's...none of our business. 

Such is the case, though, as a journalist was overheard at training asking a press officer to point out who was Gerrard and who was Robbie Keane while the former Premier League stars stretched. 

You're not in Liverpool, anymore, Gerrard. 

[Goal, h/t Dirty Tackle]

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STUB HUB CENTER, LOS ANGELES—Steven Gerrard was officially unveiled as a LA Galaxy player on Tuesday, taking part in training with his new teammates and meeting the media at his unveiling press conference.

The 35-year-old midfielder joins the current MLS champions after 17 years at his boyhood club, Liverpool.

"I love Liverpool Football Club and I always will do, I'm still a fan to this day but I needed a fresh challenge," said Galaxy's new No. 8.

"I'm a proud scouser," declared Gerrard as he fielded questions on how he's settling in to life in Los Angeles, the adaptation after being at one club for his whole career, and the influence of both David Beckham and Robbie Keane on his decision to move to California.

Gerrard admitted his biggest difficulty so far had been the jet lag he suffered in his first three days on the west coast of America, while the only advice Keane had given him was to pack the factor 50 sunscreen. 

After the press conference, Bleacher Report spoke exclusively to Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena on how he sees Gerrard's role in LA's midfield.

Will he be used in the deep-lying midfield role he's been used most often at Liverpool in the last year, will he take up a purely attacking midfield role, or will it be a box-to-box midfield role alongside Juninho?

"I think all of that," said Arena. "We need to get used to Steven, Steven needs to get used to our team, but we're not bringing him in to be a defensive midfielder, he needs to be a little bit closer to goal.

"He'll work hand in hand with Juninho [in midfield], they'll get to understand each other. 

"We don't necessarily define one over the other in the midfield area, they'll share responsibilities, although we would think that Steven will be a little bit more forward than Juninho."

Gerrard and Juninho were paired together in training but it was certainly the former England captain who was attacking more and linking up with Keane in particular. Gerrard's class was evident as he frequently set up easy opportunities for his new teammates—although his shooting lacked precision after six weeks without a competitive match.

"Anyone who thinks I'm over here for a holiday, I'll prove them wrong," declared Gerrard at his press conference inside a packed Stadium Club room overlooking the pitch at Galaxy's 27,000-capacity home.

Arena refused to be drawn on whether Gerrard, who scored a record 47 penalties for Liverpool, will take over penalty-taking duties from Galaxy captain and regular spot-kick taker Keane.

"The nice part is that we have two of the best [penalty takers] in the world and it's a good option to have," said a clearly delighted Arena.

Speaking of how Gerrard has fit in at Galaxy, Arena was full of praise for the person and player: "He's a wonderful guy to have around, which makes this kind of move easy for everyone."

Arena admitted he was surprised that a player of Gerrard's history was available—after spending his whole career at one club.

"Yeah I was surprised," said the experienced American coach. "We've spoken to players in similar positions, but very rarely do players who have been at one club their whole lives make this sort of move. 

"We were surprised and obviously very pleased. Once we understood he had a real interest, we were pretty aggressive in convincing him to come."

Arena revealed how he travelled to Liverpool in February and met Gerrard for the first time, with Galaxy president Chris Klein having explained earlier that the deal had been agreed over the phone and there had been no need for Galaxy representatives to travel to England to finalise the agreement.

Gerrard himself explained that discussions over a move to Galaxy first began in November—around the time he began to have his role reduced at Anfield.

The former England captain will make his first appearance for Galaxy in the International Champions Cup against Club America on Saturday, with his competitive MLS debut six days later against San Jose Earthquakes, both at Galaxy's home stadium, the Stub Hub Center.

* All quotes obtained firsthand.

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New York City FC has been active this summer. It signed Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo as the club's third designated player, per the official MLS website. NYCFC also acquired former Athletic Bilbao defender Andoni Iraola and Manchester City youngster Jose Angel Tasende in June. It's clear that the expansion side wants success right away and is aiming to make a splash in MLS.

However, like every other philosophy, ignoring the long-term future has some negative connotations for NYCFC.

In March, when ex-Barcelona midfielder Xavi was linked to the club, head coach Jason Kreis revealed that the signing wouldn't make any sense, per Goal.com's Ives Galarcep. Kreis hinted that it would be best for the team to acquire a younger designated player.

The same issue was brought up again when the rumors of Pirlo joining NYCFC first surfaced. In all likelihood, Kreis and his assistants reiterated their desire for a younger designated player, but ownership insisted on the Italian midfielder instead, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:

If City Football Group did pursue Pirlo despite the protests from staff, it presents some new issues.

Firstly, Kreis will be forced to shuffle his lineup and possibly tinker his system to accommodate Pirlo and Frank Lampard in midfield. Ownership will likely want all three stars to be in the starting XI when available. If the coach can't meet that requirement, he'll take heat.

With Pirlo and Lampard, it will be interesting to see who starts around them. Andrew Jacobson and Ned Grabavoy can provide some defensive stability, but Mix Diskerud is probably higher in the pecking order.

If NYCFC struggles with all three designated players in the lineup, not only is Kreis in trouble, but fans will be upset given the money that was spent to sign David Villa, Lampard and Pirlo. 

Pirlo will make a reported $8 million a year, per ESPN FC's Doug McIntyre. Lampard will be on $6 million annually, according to Brian Straus of Sports Illustrated. Straus also reported that Villa is on the same wages as the English midfielder.

On the other hand, players who arrive at MLS from Europe during the season rarely make an immediate impact. However, with nine points separating second to 10th place in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs would be a catastrophe.

All of the above will linger in the owners' minds as well as Kreis', but there are some clear positives to the Pirlo signing and NYCFC's thinking behind their recent transactions.

Pirlo can still play at a relatively high level at 36 years of age. He started the Champions League final in June and was a key figure for Juventus during the club's run of four consecutive Scudetti.

It's also gratifying to see NYCFC spending big money. New York City is the largest market in the United States, and ownership has surely caught the attention of many sports fans in the area.

The three designated players are not only solid on the field, but they're marketable. That is a major reason why they're being paid millions of dollars.

The Iraola and Tasende signings also give NYCFC some defensive depth, which has been a concern for most of the season. 

NYCFC's owners also realize that winning on the field attracts fans more than anything else, no matter the market. Marquee signings only go so far in New York where failure is not an option.

Teams such as the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire seldom open their wallets. But when they do, it's on mid-level players like Kevin Doyle or Shaun Maloney. Surely their fans would love it if they spent more. This is why NYCFC deserves some credit for taking the risk.

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

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