Roy Hodgson leaves Liverpool, club appoint Kenny Dalglish

Liverpool appointed former player and manager Kenny Dalglish.

London: Manager Roy Hodgson left Liverpool Saturday and the club appointed former player and manager Kenny Dalglish until the end of the season to try to turn around a dismal run of form.

Hodgson, who joined England`s most successful club from Fulham in July last year, had been under intense pressure from fans in recent weeks after defeats by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers. He leaves with the club four points above the relegation zone in 12th place and on the day before Liverpool travel to arch-rivals Manchester United for an FA Cup third round match. "I have ... found the last few months some of the most challenging of my career," Hodgson said on the club website (www.liverpoolfc.tv). "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." Fans, who have chanted Dalglish`s name at matches this season, will welcome news that the man won eight league titles as a player and manager at Anfield is back at the helm. "We are delighted that Kenny Dalglish has agreed to step in and manage the team for Sunday`s FA Cup tie at Old Trafford and for the remainder of the season," club owner John Henry said. "Kenny was not just a legendary footballer, he was the third of our three most successful managers -- three giants. We are extraordinarily fortunate and grateful that he has decided to step in during the middle of this season." Dalglish was in charge when Liverpool claimed the last of their 18 English league championships in 1990. Bureau Report