LA Galaxy 2023 MLS season preview: Tactics, predicted XI, predictions

After finally returning to the MLS Cup Playoffs last year, the LA Galaxy are looking to build momentum in 2023.

Greg Vanney's side finished right up in fourth place in the Western Conference before going on to beat Nashville SC 1-0 in Round One of the Playoffs.

That proved to be their limit as the Galaxy lost another thrilling El Trafico clash against eventual champions LAFC 3-2 in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. However, the campaign as a whole left the five-time champions with plenty of positives and clear areas to work on.

So, here's everything you need to know about the LA Galaxy ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.

How did LA Galaxy perform in 2022?

• Regular season: 4th in Western Conference
• MLS Cup Playoffs: Western Conference Semi-Finals
• US Open Cup: Quarter-Finals

LA Galaxy transfer activity

Transfers in

Transfers out

Greg Vanney: Tactics and style of play

There deviated at times, but Greg Vanney mostly stuck with a 4-2-3-1 last season, turning the Galaxy into one of the most possession-heavy teams in Major League Soccer.

However, there were some glaring holes in their style of play. For starters, they often looked unprepared for turnovers and became vulnerable to counter-attacks, while their play often stagnated due to a lack of production or, indeed, excitement from their wingers.

In the end, they were really bailed out by the form of strikers Chicharito and Dejan Joveljic - the latter performing as a super sub while fans were crying out (mostly in vain) for the two to be started together.

Some of the principles may stay the same this year, but there are key areas for Vanney to improve if the Galaxy are to challenge.

LA Galaxy predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bond; Leerdam, Coulibaly, Mavinga, Edwards; Brugman, Delgado; Alvarez, Puig, Rodriguez; Chicharito.

Who is LA Galaxy's key player?

Riqui Puig

Chicharito is obviously the talisman of this team, but you cannot understate just how much better the Galaxy looked once Riqui Puig arrived from Barcelona.

The diminutive Spanish midfielder immediately adjusted to MLS, pulling the strings and turning the Galaxy from a turgid, predictable outfit into one that genuinely looked capable of cracking a team open at any moment.

Whether sitting deep to dictate play or lining up behind the main striker to provide the killer pass, Puig is absolutely made for possession soccer and feels like a perfect Vanney player. Getting a full season from him could dramatically improve the Galaxy's fortunes, if the supporting cast is up to the task.

LA Galaxy 2023 season prediction

There were plenty of positives for the Galaxy to take from 2022. However, Julian Araujo, Kevin Cabral, and Samuel Grandsir are just three players to have been sold and, as yet, not replaced. Sure, the latter two didn't deliver their best in LA, but they're still important attacking bodies that need filling.

Couple the above with protests against president Chris Klein's management of the club - both on and off the field - and the Galaxy are actually entering 2023 in hot water.

There's still time to strengthen their hand, but not much time to bed in new players before the season kicks off. With that in mind, valuable points could be thrown away early on which means the Galaxy miss out on the Playoffs.

Will the LA Galaxy qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs? No