Hodgson departs Liverpool

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has left the club by mutual consent, with former manager Kenny Dalglish placed in charge for the rest of this season.

“Both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down,” the club’s American owner John Henry said in a statement.

Former Fulham manager Hodgson was appointed Liverpool boss in July, but the club struggled to find form under his reign and could win only seven of their 20 matches with the 63-year-old at the helm.

His most recent game in charge was a 3-1 loss to Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday, a defeat which left Liverpool in 12th place in the English Premier League.

Hodgson said he was disappointed he had not been given more time to leave his mark at Anfield.

“I have, however, found the last few months some of the most challenging of my career,” Hodgson said in a statement on the club’s website.

“I am very sad not to have been able to put my stamp on the squad, to be given the time to bring new players into the club in this transfer window and to have been able to be part of the rebuilding process at Liverpool.”

For Dalglish, the former Celtic, Blackburn and Newcastle boss returns to the club he last managed in 1991 after guiding Liverpool to three top-flight titles from 1985, in addition to the six he won there as a player.

He also guided Blackburn Rovers to the English Premier League title in 1994-95, but has not managed a club at the top level since 2000, when he was briefly in charge of Celtic following the sacking of john Barnes.

“Kenny was not just a legendary footballer, he was the third of our three most successful managers – three giants,” Henry said.

“We are extraordinarily fortunate and grateful that he has decided to step in during the middle of this season.”

His first match in charge will be Sunday’s FA cup tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford.