Former Liverpool man Dietmar Hamann has called for a position switch in midfield and has backed Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool Champions League winner Dietmar Hamann believes Alexis Mac Allister was unfairly singled out for criticism last season - but has called for a change in the Reds midfield.
Mac Allister was among a number of individuals to be targeted for their underwhelming performances during a dismal defence of the Premier League title.
It prompted talk of a potential move away from Anfield this summer, although the Argentina international will return to the AXA Training Centre next week having helped his country reach the recent World Cup final.
And Hamann is adamant Mac Allister was a victim of his own previous high standards and expectations should be tempered in the immediate future under new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
"He was singled out unfairly a lot of the time because, being a World Cup winner, people expected more of him," said the ex-Liverpool man.
"The criticism was a bit over the top last season. But then again, if you're a high-profile player, the one thing you can't control is expectations. And I think that was part of the problem with him last season.
"Even though he's not played well, obviously he wasn't the only one. The issues were far, far bigger and far deeper than everything just being Alexis Mac Allister's fault."
Hamann added: "He had a good World Cup, and has had a short break as well. He's probably only had three weeks to prepare for the season, and sometimes we see the consequences when the season starts.
"He's just a player who keeps things ticking over. He can nick a goal and has scored some important ones."
Iraola has already indicated Mac Allister's late return for pre-season means he is unlikely to start during the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign which begins for Liverpool at Newcastle United on August 23.
And Hamann suggests the Argentine may have now fallen behind Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in the midfield pecking order and has called on Iraola to give the former a specific defensive role in the engine room.
"You want a defence-minded player in midfield, and there's Ryan Gravenberch," he said. "Even though in his earlier days he was probably a more attacking player, he played the role really well because Liverpool have got four or five players ahead of him who can cause problems and damage going forward.
"You've just got to keep it simple and obviously give them the freedom to do what they do best, and Ryan Gravenberch is well capable of doing that.
"I have been very impressed with Dominik Szoboszlai. Even in a struggling side last season he probably was, along with Hugo Ekitike, someone who came out the other side with some credit. Heâs played at right-back, so he doesnât mind doing the defensive side for the team.
"But I'd probably prefer Ryan Gravenberch playing in that position on his own, because he's got a bit more physical presence and he reads the game really well. So I think that Gravenberch will play there this season. Obviously, Szoboszlai, is an asset to have because he's so versatile, but heâs got those attacking qualities too."
Speaking to MrQ.com, Hamann expects there to be more business from Liverpool between now and the end of the transfer window but is convinced part of Iraola's remit will be to extract more from last summer's raft of incomings.
"Maybe you can say he's already got three or four players who are going to feel like new signings because they were signed last season but they didn't turn up," he said.
"Iraolaâs biggest job will be to get the best out of Alexander Isak, get the best out of Florian Wirtz, and get the best out of Milos Kerkez, who is of course a former player of his.
"We've got another three-and-a-half weeks in the transfer window. I'm pretty sure we'll see some business.
"There were a lot of issues at Anfield last season, but even so, I think they are in pretty good nick, but they could probably do with two or three more additions this window, yes."
Liverpool Champions League winner Dietmar Hamann believes Alexis Mac Allister was unfairly singled out for criticism last season - but has called for a change in the Reds midfield.
Mac Allister was among a number of individuals to be targeted for their underwhelming performances during a dismal defence of the Premier League title.
It prompted talk of a potential move away from Anfield this summer, although the Argentina international will return to the AXA Training Centre next week having helped his country reach the recent World Cup final.
And Hamann is adamant Mac Allister was a victim of his own previous high standards and expectations should be tempered in the immediate future under new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
"He was singled out unfairly a lot of the time because, being a World Cup winner, people expected more of him," said the ex-Liverpool man.
"The criticism was a bit over the top last season. But then again, if you're a high-profile player, the one thing you can't control is expectations. And I think that was part of the problem with him last season.
"Even though he's not played well, obviously he wasn't the only one. The issues were far, far bigger and far deeper than everything just being Alexis Mac Allister's fault."
Hamann added: "He had a good World Cup, and has had a short break as well. He's probably only had three weeks to prepare for the season, and sometimes we see the consequences when the season starts.
"He's just a player who keeps things ticking over. He can nick a goal and has scored some important ones."
Iraola has already indicated Mac Allister's late return for pre-season means he is unlikely to start during the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign which begins for Liverpool at Newcastle United on August 23.
And Hamann suggests the Argentine may have now fallen behind Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in the midfield pecking order and has called on Iraola to give the former a specific defensive role in the engine room.
"You want a defence-minded player in midfield, and there's Ryan Gravenberch," he said. "Even though in his earlier days he was probably a more attacking player, he played the role really well because Liverpool have got four or five players ahead of him who can cause problems and damage going forward.
"You've just got to keep it simple and obviously give them the freedom to do what they do best, and Ryan Gravenberch is well capable of doing that.
"I have been very impressed with Dominik Szoboszlai. Even in a struggling side last season he probably was, along with Hugo Ekitike, someone who came out the other side with some credit. Heâs played at right-back, so he doesnât mind doing the defensive side for the team.
"But I'd probably prefer Ryan Gravenberch playing in that position on his own, because he's got a bit more physical presence and he reads the game really well. So I think that Gravenberch will play there this season. Obviously, Szoboszlai, is an asset to have because he's so versatile, but heâs got those attacking qualities too."
Speaking to MrQ.com, Hamann expects there to be more business from Liverpool between now and the end of the transfer window but is convinced part of Iraola's remit will be to extract more from last summer's raft of incomings.
"Maybe you can say he's already got three or four players who are going to feel like new signings because they were signed last season but they didn't turn up," he said.
"Iraolaâs biggest job will be to get the best out of Alexander Isak, get the best out of Florian Wirtz, and get the best out of Milos Kerkez, who is of course a former player of his.
"We've got another three-and-a-half weeks in the transfer window. I'm pretty sure we'll see some business.
"There were a lot of issues at Anfield last season, but even so, I think they are in pretty good nick, but they could probably do with two or three more additions this window, yes."
