Daniel Falkenheim | For NJ.com

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Photo: Noah K. Murray | USA TODAY Sports

Red Bulls vs. L.A. Galaxy: 5 things to watch Sunday

The New York Red Bulls will travel to the opposite end of the country to face the L.A. Galaxy on Sunday. Without captain Dax McCarty, the Red Bulls will have to find a way to band together and overcome L.A. Galaxy stars Giovani dos Santos, Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane. Here are five things to watch during Sunday's match.

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How do the Red Bulls play without Dax McCarty?

Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty announced on Monday that he was out 4-6 weeks with a broken leg and his injury is a sizable loss for the Red Bulls, both on and off the field. McCarty played in the 2015 MLS All-Star Game and, although he hasn't played at an All-Star level in 2016, he's consistently been one of the Red Bulls' best players. The loss of McCarty will be felt against a good L.A. Galaxy team on Sunday.

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How do the Red Bulls play without Dax McCarty?

Red Bulls midfielder Sean Davis came in for the injured Dax McCarty in the Red Bulls' game against on the Chicago Fire on July 31, and he filled in without a hitch. Davis is a defensive-minded midfielder, like McCarty, and there isn't a huge drop-off between the two players. Davis played well against the Fire, but he'll be put to the test on Sunday against the Galaxy.

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Will Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence play?

Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence played 60 minutes in his team's 3-0 CONCACAF Champions League victory over Antigua GFC on Wednesday night. Lawrence played well at outside back and there didn't seem to be much rust in his first return from injury with the Red Bulls in over two months.

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Will Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence play?

"We're just trying to see where [Lawrence] is at physically and make sure that we're not, after the surgery, putting him in any jeopardy of reinjuring anything," Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said after Friday's training session. "My gut tells me that he'll be ready to go."

Lawrence probably won't start on Sunday, but his return means defenders Connor Lade and Sal Zizzo's consistent starting role may be put in jeopardy.

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How will the Red Bulls handle Steven Gerrard?

Steven Gerrard turned in a sub-par season for the L.A. Galaxy in 2015, but he's found himself in the 2016 season. Gerrard has eight assists in 2016, the fifth-most in the MLS, and he's formed a powerful trifecta alongside teammates Giovani dos Santos and Robbie Keane.

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How will the Red Bulls handle Steven Gerrard?

Red Bulls midfielder Sean Davis will be tested in his first game filling in for the injured Dax McCarty. The Red Bulls defense has shown weakness at time, and the Red Bulls will need a complete defensive effort to shut down L.A. Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard.

"Steven Gerrard is an incredible pro, and has been an incredible player and leader. It's not easy to acclimate so quickly, but once you get a little more fitness and you understand the league a little bit more, then it's natural that guys start to show what they're really about."

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Can the Red Bulls finally put their road struggles to rest?

The Red Bulls narrowly earned one point against the Chicago Fire in a 2-2 draw, and they did not look like a confident team for more than half of the match. The Red Bulls have simply been unable to carry their play at home into a road game, and they are tied for the second-most road losses in the MLS.

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Can the Red Bulls finally put their road struggles to rest?

The L.A. Galaxy have not lost a game at home in the 2016 MLS regular season, and Sunday's match will be a good test to see if the Red Bulls can compete on the road against a top-tier team. Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch has said in the past that his players need to come out with more "belief" and "courage," and there is no excuse not to come into Sunday's game with confidence.

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Can the Red Bulls score against Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe?

L.A. Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe has surrendered only four goals in his last nine matches. The Red Bulls' attack has caught fire as of late, and they have scored four goals in their last two road games, but the Red Bulls need to prove that they can sustain their offense against one of the top teams in the MLS.

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Can the Red Bulls score against Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe?

The bulk of the Red Bulls' offensive workload is going to fall on the shoulders of midfielder Sacha Kljestan and forward Bradley Wright-Phillips. The two have reclaimed their chemistry and have gotten on a roll, and they'll have to carry the Red Bulls on Sunday.