Houston Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen is itching to get back into action as they go in search of their first win of the MLS season against Los Angeles FC on Saturday.

Houston sit second from bottom in the Western Conference, having earned just two points this season, though both of their draws have come on the road.

They are one of just five winless teams across MLS and come into this match on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Portland Timbers.

Olsen made no excuses for the Dynamo's start to the season, insisting that his team were raring to go in front of their fans at Shell Energy Stadium.

"We're just looking forward to another game," he said. "It's another chance to turn the season around, so the game can't happen quickly enough.

"It's nice to be at home. It's something we're looking to build our form at home. It hasn't been good enough; it wasn't last year, and we haven't sent the fans home happy, but hopefully, this'll be the weekend."

LAFC, meanwhile, are eighth in the table, having won three and lost three of their matches so far.

They lost last time out in MLS, failing to overturn a 3-0 deficit in their 3-2 loss to San Diego FC, but they come into this match having beaten Inter Miami in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-final on Thursday.

Despite a spirited performance that saw them keep a clean sheet against the team led by Lionel Messi, Steve Cherundolo still emphasized LAFC's need to improve on the road, especially if they have a lead to protect.

"The one thing we need to improve is that once you get up on the score, it's tempting to just finish off the counter-attacks, but you still need to occupy the opponent with possession," he said.

"Away from home, that's extremely important. We'll look to improve on that and learn from our mistakes and apply that going forward."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Amine Bassi

The Dynamo have managed just 10 shots on target through six matches this season, the fewest through six matches of a season since Opta began detailed data collection of MLS in 2010.

Amine Bassi has not netted just once this season but is only one of three to have had more than one shot on target so far. Out of those three players, he has the highest expected goals tally (1.01 xG).

Los Angeles FC – Hugo Lloris

Los Angeles FC found themselves 3-0 down after just 40 minutes at San Diego FC on Saturday, with Hugo Lloris struggling against their early onslaught.

It was the third-fastest LAFC have conceded three goals from kick-off in a regular-season match and the fastest since allowing three goals in 36 minutes against Sporting Kansas City in August 2021.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

The Dynamo have kept clean sheets in each of their last four regular-season meetings with Los Angeles FC (W3 D1). No other team has kept clean sheets in more than two straight league matches against LAFC.

Both of Houston's points this season have been earned on the road as they have lost each of their first three home matches of a season for the first time in club history. The only teams to lose their first four home matches of a season (excluding breakaway shootout losses) were Toronto FC and Chivas USA (both first five) in 2012.

LAFC, meanwhile, have lost seven of their last 19 regular-season matches dating back to mid-July. They conceded 23 goals in the seven defeats (3.3 per match) while allowing just five goals in the other 12 matches (0.4 per match).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 36%

Draw – 26.1%

Los Angeles FC – 37.8%