Roy Hodgson has announced his decision to retire from top-flight management at the end of the season, meaning his last game in charge will be against Liverpool at Anfield.
Hodgson’s contract with Crystal Palace expires this summer, and it has long been speculated that this would be the 73-year-old’s last campaign as boss.
Palace confirmed the news on Tuesday morning, with Hodgson saying: “The moment is right for me to step down from my responsibilities of being a full-time manager.”
The former Liverpool manager will therefore take charge of two final games, those being at home to Arsenal on Wednesday night and then away to the Reds on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool will need to get a result from their final-day clash with the Eagles to ensure a place in the top four, but the fear is now that Hodgson’s farewell will give Palace an incentive to go for broke at Anfield.
Supporters have taken to Twitter to discuss Hodgson’s departure and how it could impact the Reds’ season-closer:
Burnley with fans back at Turf Moor for the first time since March 2020 and Roy Hodgson’s last game as Crystal Palace manager at Anfield. Narratives everywhere.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) May 18, 2021
Just realised Roy Hodgson’s last match for Crystal Palace will be at Anfield, and will likely decide whether or not we make the Champions League. pic.twitter.com/lQTmc9d1VK
— David (@chattingwham) May 14, 2021
Hodgson returning to Anfield in his final game to screw Liverpool again is peak narrative https://t.co/mC8rpjI5eL
— Ravi ?? (@ravi_hiranand) May 18, 2021
Fans back at Burnley tomorrow night and now Roy Hodgson leaving Palace and his potentially last ever game in management could be Sunday afternoon at Anfield. Everything could be going against us to qualify for champ league. Some achievement if we pull it off!
— L (@Lagerpool) May 18, 2021
He'll be saying goodbye to a half empty Kop.
Be like old times.https://t.co/PSDSYXgZHI
— Steven Kelly (@SteKelly198586) May 18, 2021
Roy Hodgson's final game is at Anfield. Wants to deny Liverpool Champions League football for a second time it seems.
— Key Stakeholder Of Havoc (@DukeOfHavoc) May 18, 2021
Can we make a deal with Roy for last game of the season, players give him a guard of honour before the game and the fans sing Roy hodgson songs around Anfield for 90 minutes, if he lets us win, sounds fair
— LFCKeith (@NabySZN21) May 18, 2021
It has been a long and strange managerial career for Hodgson, who began in charge of Halmstads BK in Sweden in 1976, before spells in England, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, the UAE, Norway and Finland.
He has been an international manager on four occasions, and has coached the likes of Javier Zanetti, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Andrea Pirlo and Diego Simeone.
His time in charge of Liverpool was a disaster, spanning just six months before his sacking and the appointment of Kenny Dalglish in 2011, having won just seven on 20 Premier League games.
Hodgson’s record against the Reds is poor, with three wins from 16 games, while he has lost all six meetings with Jurgen Klopp.
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