Liverpool need to strengthen their squad before the new season, but former player McAteer believes that Gakpo should stay.
"When a team doesn't perform as expected, or when both expectations and performance decline, fans will look for a scapegoat. It could be the board, the head coach, or the players," McAteer told Betarades.gr.
“I think Gacopo received a lot of criticism last season, and it was unfair criticism. I think Gacopo is a very hard-working person who always gives his all for the team. He always manages to steal a goal. Sometimes he seems predictable, and sometimes he appears and disappears during the game. Sometimes he makes people anxious, but listen, that’s life for a Premier League winger.”
“Gakpo seems more committed when he plays for the national team. I’ve played with some players who seem to really enjoy reporting to the national team. They’re more relaxed then, and they perform better, or at least it seems that way.”
“When the club is performing poorly, people always want to find someone to blame, and it’s easy to point the finger at Gakopo because he doesn’t act aggressively, doesn’t get emotional, doesn’t go to the newspapers, and doesn’t publicly retaliate against the fans. I think he’s an easy target.”
McAteer added, "He was under pressure from Rio (Ngomoha) all last season. Everyone wants to see more of those energetic, technically gifted, and creative players. Everyone likes that kind of player. There are those kinds of players everywhere at the World Cup, and we're always talking about individual ability."
“But sometimes you need a team player, and that’s what Gakopo is all about. So he’s been fighting against that situation.”
