Jamie Carragher has vehemently denied a theory that suggested Steven Gerrard deliberately missed a penalty to encourage Liverpool to sack Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson was appointed as Rafa Benitez's replacement in July 2010, but it quickly became apparent he was not the right man for the job. Having been named LMA Manager of the Year the season before, Hodgson struggled badly to find a successful formula with the Reds.
He won just 13 of his 31 games in charge and saw his side dumped out of the League Cup in humiliating fashion at home to League Two team Northampton Town. Matters came to a head in January 2011, when Hodgson was dismissed from his role.
The sacking came after a dismal defeat at Blackburn Rovers, which saw the Reds go three goals down before a late fightback. Captain Gerrard scored with nine minutes to go before he won a penalty when Michael Salgado brought him down in the box.
The midfielder stepped up to take the resulting spotkick but blazed it over the bar to extinguish any hopes of a comeback. The defeat left Liverpool just four points clear of the relegation zone, with Hodgson soon sacked.
A theory emerged after the dismissal that Gerrard had deliberately missed the penalty to ensure Hodgson was sent packing. Carragher, who was not in the squad for the game, has hit back at those suggestions.
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"No, that is not true. No, no, no, nothing like that. I mean, I felt sorry for him (Hodgson) to be honest," the legendary defender told the Diary of a CEO podcast of the theory involving Gerrard and his then-manager.
"Roy Hodgson had a tough time at Liverpool. He just wasn't the right manager for the club and the club moved him on after about six months. He just didn't get the club, he didn't say the right things in the press.
"He was too defensive for Liverpool. Not just for Liverpool but any top club. Listen, he had success in his career playing that way and he wasn't going to change that when he was in his sixties. So, it was just the wrong appointment, it didn't work."
At the time, Hodgson admitted his sadness at receiving his marching orders despite the club's perilous position. And he lamented the fact he had not been given at least the rest of transfer window to turn things around.
"Being asked to manage Liverpool Football Club was a great privilege. Any manager would be honoured to manage a club with such an incredible history, such embedded tradition and such an amazing set of fans," he said.
"I have, however, found the last few months some of the most challenging of my career. 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.
"The club has some great, world-class players, with whom it has been a pleasure to work and I wish the entire squad well for the rest of the season."
