Leaving with respect - SkySports

I was glad that they have sat down and they have sorted it out, not just for the club's benefit but for Roy's as well. I certainly would not want to be humiliated at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Phil Thompson
Quotes of the week

Phil Thompson is relieved that Liverpool and Roy Hodgson have finally parted ways but believes everyone needs to take responsibility for the problems.

Hodgson left Liverpool on Saturday by mutual consent with Reds legend Kenny Dalglish put in charge until the end of the season at Anfield.

Hodgson took over from Rafael Benitez in July 2010 but has only won seven of 20 Premier League leaving the famous club languishing in 12th spot in the Premier League and are sitting just four points above the drop zone.

The fans have turned on Hodgson like no other and while the intense pressure finally told, Phil Thompson is relieved they left on mutual terms.

"It has been an extremely difficult times at Liverpool with what has been going on, particularly since Wolverhampton game at Anfield," said Phil Thompson on Soccer Saturday.

"It has been extremely difficult for Roy to carry on. I think it has just reached its conclusion. I was glad that they have sat down and they have sorted it out, not just for the club's benefit but for Roy's as well. I certainly would not want to be humiliated at Old Trafford on Sunday."

"Six months is not long enough, you know me, all managers not just at Liverpool should have a chance and be given a chance but hat we have seen at Liverpool in the last month has been unprecedented - it has been unparalleled in the way the fans have turned.

"Even in the dark days of Graeme Souness' reign there were no universal chants for Graham to go. There were a lot of disaffected people in the crowd but Liverpool fans felt that they were different and they did not do things like that, we stick together and we stick with the club - yes they will boo at the end of the games, but this was incredible what we have seen. The fans have even started the mickey out of the manager by chanting 'you will get sacked in the morning.' That is incredible."

Phil also took the opportunity to explain his piece in a local paper that suggested at a dignified agreement between the club and Roy Hodgson, but was horrified at the headline that suggested that Roy got it wrong and it was time to go.

"I stand by the piece - I have been there and I have said what it was like, I said all the things in Roy's favour and what has gone wrong since he came in - Torres was injured, Mascherano wanted to leave, the owners were still there with all their problems and he was left with a squad that did not have the right ability.

"But I could not hide away the fact that he has not been good. I have not seen one really good game and the best way out for everybody was for Roy and the club to sit down in a amicably and dignified way and find a way for them to end all this.

"I tired to say it in the best way, that was not what was in the article, I feel for Roy because he will see that and that was not my intention, I tired to say it in the best way, they got it wrong and it was awful, and I rang the editor and said I do not want anything more to do with the paper, forget about me doing any more articles."

A long hard look

Liverpool's woes should not be all on Hodgson's shoulders though and Phil says a lot of the players did not perform well enough to save their manager.

"Everyone has to take responsibility for what has gone on. Roy is the manager and the buck always stops with him, but he has a medical staff who have to prepare the players to go on the pitch, the players have to perform and they have not done enough for Roy. Maybe he has not been able to get the best out of them but they have not done enough for that football club. They need to start playing and earn their wages no matter who is in charge. If you are out there you are playing for a very well respected football club and you should do your best every week. Not enough of them have done that."