Hamann's verdict on Europa League draw
Dietmar Hamann has backed Liverpool to progress in the Europa League after his former club were drawn with Besiktas in the last 32 today – but warned Brendan Rodgers' side to expect an imposing challenge from their opponents.
The Reds were paired with the current leaders in Turkey when the fixtures for the tournament's first knockout round were revealed on Monday afternoon, setting up a two-legged contest in February 2015.
Besiktas, coached by Slaven Bilic, swept through the group stage undefeated with three wins and three draws, having been narrowly eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Arsenal, 1-0 on aggregate.
"It could have been better and could have been worse," was Hamann's immediate assessment of the tie. "Besiktas is not an easy draw - away to Turkey is a very tough place to go, it's usually a very hostile crowd.
"It might be a bit easier this time because they are playing at the Ataturk, where the Champions League final was played in 2005; there is a track around the pitch so it shouldn't be too noisy.
"But nevertheless, they played Arsenal in the Champions League qualifying round at the start of this season and held them to a draw in Istanbul. Everybody thought it was a foregone conclusion that Arsenal would go through, but they scraped through with a 1-0 win.
"Demba Ba is in their ranks and has scored five goals in Europa League games this season. And they are top of the league. Don't underestimate them, but if the team plays to the potential that they can, I expect them to get to the last 16."
He continued: "Slaven Bilic has a very good record. He played in England for a long time so he'll be pretty familiar with English football and the Liverpool side, so he'll let his players know what to expect when they come to Anfield.
"But it's about us and our team and I think there is enough quality in the team to get to the last 16. The rules have been changed and the winners get a spot in the Champions League, which would be a tremendous achievement.
"It is a great learning curve for some of the players and if at the end there is a place in the Champions League for next season, even better."
Assessing Besiktas in further detail, Hamann highlighted the prolific exploits of former Chelsea and Newcastle United striker Demba Ba as the most obvious danger to Liverpool's ambitions of reaching the Round of 16.
The 29-year-old, who was on target at Anfield in April of this year, has registered five goals in four Europa League appearances to help his current outfit breeze into the knockout stages.
"He still scores goals in the Europa League, which shows that he is capable of producing the goods," said Hamann, a Champions League and UEFA Cup winner during his seven years with the Reds.
"He is a fantastic goalscorer; he has scored goals in Germany, scored goals for Newcastle. He is a threat. It wasn't only his goal at Anfield.
"I went to the game and the way he held the ball up - he was playing up front on his own - and the way he kept the ball against two or three opponents at times, bringing balls down with his chest and bringing others into play, was very impressive."