The Seattle Sounders will likely roll out a heavily rotated lineup against Sporting KC today. Given Sporting KC’s recent form and injuries, though, this is still a match from which they should expect points. Sporting KC are winless in five and will be missing two of their top playmakers and give up goals by the bushel.

Here’s what you need to know:

Injury news

Sounders

OUT: Paul Arriola - Knee; Stuart Hawkins - Quad; Ryan Kent - Hamstring; Jordan Morris - Shoulder; João Paulo - Knee; Albert Rusnák - Hamstring

Sporting KC

OUT: Joaquin Fernandez – Hamstring; Manu Garcia – Quad; Jack Kortkamp – Head; Alan Montes – Not Due to Injury; Memo Rodriguez – Not Due to Injury; Erik Thommy – Hip

Opposition players to watch

Dejan Joveljic: Sounders fans should know this name well as he is the player who scored the winning goal in last year’s Western Conference final. Since coming in a “cashfer” Joveljic has been everything Sporting KC could have wanted and he has more goals (14) than the team’s next three leading scorers combined (13).

Jake Davis: With both Manu Garcia and Erik Thommy out, there’s a good chance that a lot of the playmaking will fall to Jake Davis. He’s more of an industrious player than a creative one, but he is second on the team in progressive passes despite just about 1,200 minutes played.

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Stats to look smart

52.2: Sporting KC has given up 50 goals, but that possibly undersells just how bad their defense has been this year. With 52.2 xGA, no team has given more more quality chances than the Sporks.

15.1: Over their last eight league games, the Sounders have generated 15.1 xG, which is the second best total in that time. They’ve converted that into 18 goals, which leads the league. All of which is to say, they’re creating and finishing plenty of chances.

Tactics to impress

This has been a bit of a lost season for Sporting KC as they stumble toward another playoff-less campaign. They’re currently on a five-game winless run in which they’ve allowed multiple goals in four. When a team is in a form like this, the best thing you can do is knock them out early.
Sporting KC has been especially bad when having to defend in transition. Every time the Sounders get the ball, they need to be looking forward. Danny Musovski is probably going to be particularly motivated after his bone-headed red card. Feed the man.