"It's an exciting time - the start of the season - and everybody is buzzing to get involved again.

"Pre-season has got to be done but they are still friendlies and for that reason I am happy that we have started the season.

"If you always think about being tired or getting tired then one day you will. I don't expect any upsets and I will just try to keep going."

Hamann said fellow midfielders Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy 'played well and looked fresh' after both spent the summer recovering from injuries.

And he also had words of praise for new striker El Hadji Diouf who was booed off by Aston Villa fans, who accused him of diving.

Hamann said: "I think he experienced that it is a different game in England.

"I didn't think he meant to be diving but a few times he got tripped, fell over and didn't get the free-kick.

"I think he adapted quite well and after a few more games we will see the best of him.

"Everybody can tell him it's a different ball game but he has got to have the experience himself.

"You only get experience by playing and I think he had a good game. He was a bit unlucky with a few chances and half chances."

Hamann added: "He's a different option to the other strikers and he did well for us."