Hamann: Iraola's biggest task is activating players like Isak, Wirtz, and Kelkez

Liverpool's Champions League winner Dietmar Hamann believes Mac Allister was unfairly thrown into the spotlight last season, but he also called for the Reds to make changes to their midfield.

Mac Allister was one of the players criticized when Liverpool underperformed in their Premier League title defense last season. This even led to rumors that he might leave Anfield this summer, but the Argentine international will return to the AXA Training Centre next week after reaching the World Cup final with his national team.

Hamann insisted that Mac Allister was a victim of his own previously high standards, and expectations for him should be adjusted under new manager Iraola.

"Many times he was unfairly targeted because, as a World Cup winner, people had higher expectations of him," said the former Liverpool player. "The criticism last season was a bit excessive. But then again, if you are a high-profile player, the only thing you cannot control is external expectations. I think that was part of the problem he encountered last season."

"Even if he played poorly, he certainly wasn't the only one. The problem was much more serious and far-reaching than simply blaming everything on Mac Allister."

Hamann added: "He played very well at the World Cup and had a very short rest period. He probably only had three weeks to prepare for the new season, and sometimes we see the consequences of that after the season starts. He is a player who can keep the team ticking, seize opportunities, and has scored some crucial goals."

Iraola has stated that Mac Allister's late return means he is unlikely to start in the early stages of the Premier League season. Liverpool will visit Newcastle United on August 23rd, Beijing time (CEST).

Hamann believes that the Argentine may now be behind Gravenberch and Szoboszlai in the midfield pecking order and called for Iraola to assign a specific defensive role to the former in midfield.

"You want a defensive player in midfield, and Gravenberch is that kind of player," he said. "Even though he may have been more of an attacking player in his early days, he plays this role very well because Liverpool has four or five players in front of him who can create threats and damage in attack."

"You just need to keep it simple, and of course, give them the freedom to do what they do best, and Gravenberch is perfectly capable of doing that."

"I'm very impressed with Szoboszlai. Even in that struggling team last season, he was probably one of the few players who could walk away with his head held high, similar to Ekitike. He's played right-back, so he doesn't mind doing defensive work for the team."

"But I would prefer to have Gravenberch play that position alone because he is physically stronger and reads the game very well. So I think Gravenberch will play that position this season. Of course, Szoboszlai is also an asset because he is very versatile and has attacking qualities."

Hamann, in an interview with MrQ.com, said he expects Liverpool to make more moves before the transfer window closes, but he believes one of Iraola's tasks is to get more value out of the players signed last summer.

"Perhaps it can be said that he already has three or four players who will feel like new signings, because they were signed last season, but they didn't deliver then," he said.

"Iraola's biggest task is to bring out the best in Isak, the best in Wirtz, and the best in Kerkez - the latter, of course, was his former protégé."

"There are still three and a half weeks in the transfer window, and I'm pretty sure we'll see some deals."

"There were a lot of problems at Anfield last season, but even so, I think they were in good shape, but this window might need two or three more players."

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