Roy Hodgson exits Liverpool & Kenny Dalglish takes over
Hodgson had only managed one away win in the league this season
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has left the club by mutual consent.
Hodgson, 63, had won only seven of their 20 Premier League games since he took over from Rafael Benitez in July 2010 with the club 12th in the table.
Former player and manager Kenny Dalglish has been placed in charge until the end of the season.
"Both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down," said American owner John Henry in a statement on the club's website.
Hodgson refused to answer questions about his future at Anfield following Liverpool's 3-1 defeat by Blackburn on Wednesday, the club's third defeat in four Premier League games which leaves them in 12th place in the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone.
And when his press conference ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup third-round match against Manchester United on Sunday was cancelled on Friday, it fuelled further speculation that the former Fulham manager's tenure was drawing to a close.
"I have, however, found the last few months some of the most challenging of my career," read a statement from Hodgson 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."
Club ambassador Dalglish will oversee team matters for Sunday's crucial FA Cup tie at Old Trafford.
The 59-year-old won six league titles with Liverpool as a player and guided the club to three more as manager in a six-year spell between 1985 and 1991.
"Kenny was not just a legendary footballer, he was the third of our three most successful managers - three giants," said Henry.
"We are extraordinarily fortunate and grateful that he has decided to step in during the middle of this season."
Hodgson has extensive domestic and international managerial experience across Europe, including spells in charge of Blackburn Rovers and Switzerland, who he guided to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup, as well as Italian giants Inter Milan.
He joined Fulham in December 2007 and steered the club away from the relegation zone, transforming them into a competitive unit and guided them to the Europa League final last year.
His results at Craven Cottage were enough to persuade Liverpool, searching for a successor to Spaniard Benitez, to offer Hodgson a three-year contract in July.
Hodgson's campaign saw his side exit the Carling Cup following a defeat by League Two Northampton at Anfield in 22 September, while a 2-1 home defeat to Blackpool on 3 October saw them in the bottom three of the top flight for the first time since September 1964.
And following Liverpool's third league defeat in four matches at Ewood Park on Wednesday, Hodgson's position at Anfield became untenable.
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has left the club by mutual consent.
Hodgson, 63, had won only seven of their 20 Premier League games since he took over from Rafael Benitez in July 2010 with the club 12th in the table.
Former player and manager Kenny Dalglish has been placed in charge until the end of the season.
"Both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down," said American owner John Henry in a statement on the club's website.
Hodgson refused to answer questions about his future at Anfield following Liverpool's 3-1 defeat by Blackburn on Wednesday, the club's third defeat in four Premier League games which leaves them in 12th place in the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone.
And when his press conference ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup third-round match against Manchester United on Sunday was cancelled on Friday, it fuelled further speculation that the former Fulham manager's tenure was drawing to a close.
"I have, however, found the last few months some of the most challenging of my career," read a statement from Hodgson 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."
Club ambassador Dalglish will oversee team matters for Sunday's crucial FA Cup tie at Old Trafford.
The 59-year-old won six league titles with Liverpool as a player and guided the club to three more as manager in a six-year spell between 1985 and 1991.
"Kenny was not just a legendary footballer, he was the third of our three most successful managers - three giants," said Henry.
"We are extraordinarily fortunate and grateful that he has decided to step in during the middle of this season."
He joined Fulham in December 2007 and steered the club away from the relegation zone, transforming them into a competitive unit and guided them to the Europa League final last year.
His results at Craven Cottage were enough to persuade Liverpool, searching for a successor to Spaniard Benitez, to offer Hodgson a three-year contract in July.
Hodgson's campaign saw his side exit the Carling Cup following a defeat by League Two Northampton at Anfield in 22 September, while a 2-1 home defeat to Blackpool on 3 October saw them in the bottom three of the top flight for the first time since September 1964.
And following Liverpool's third league defeat in four matches at Ewood Park on Wednesday, Hodgson's position at Anfield became untenable.