Liverpool on Saturday announced that Hodgson had left the club by "mutual consent" with the Reds 12th in the Premier League, just four points above the relegation zone. Hodgson was recently forced to apologise to the club's fans for saying he "had never had the famous Anfield support" since taking over, comments he made after the embarrassing home defeat to Wolves. And although Thompson feels Hodgson was not given long enough at Anfield, the 56-year-old believes the fans had a major role to play in the former Fulham manager's exit. "Six months is not long enough, not just for Liverpool but for all managers," Thompson said. "Everybody should have a chance. "What we've seen at Liverpool in the last month has been unprecedented, unparalleled in the way the fans have turned. "Even in the dark days of Graeme Souness' reign, there were no universal chants for Graeme to go. "Liverpool fans felt as though we were different, we don't do things like that, we stick together and we stick with the club. "Now the fans had even started taking the mickey out of their own manager, chanting 'You're getting sacked in the morning.' That is incredible." Another former Liverpool defender, four-time European Cup winner Phil Neal, hopes Kenny Dalglish can restore some unity at Anfield after being put in charge of the team until the end of the season. "With the fixtures coming thick and fast we've got to be a unit and Kenny would be the first man to stand in and maybe create a bit of the old type of togetherness along with the fans," Neal told Sky Sports News. "It's the right stop-gap thing. He's a quality person, knows all about togetherness...the body language of some of our players was concerning to all the Liverpool ex-players because they didn't look like they enjoyed playing with each other. "That's concerning because other clubs have gone down the leagues because they've sacked their manager and can't find a better one. I hope that's not the case with Liverpool." Ray Houghton, one of the best signings of Dalglish's first spell in charge, believes the Scot will relish the challenge of returning to the Anfield hotseat. Dalglish, who oversaw three league title wins at Liverpool, quit as Reds boss with a heavy heart 20 years ago and later admitted he would have returned if offered the chance. Houghton, who made 202 appearances for Liverpool from 1987-92, told talkSPORT: "Kenny is an iconic figure at Liverpool, both as a player and a manager. He has got unfinished business, no doubt about it. "If you sat down with Kenny I am sure he would tell you he would love to take the job on on a permanent deal, and be there for the long term. "He has still got a great affiliation with the Liverpool fans and there is nothing he would love more than to come back at this stage and be a major success. I really hope so. "I hope Kenny can come in and energise the squad. I am sure he will by his name alone and I think he will put a few smiles on people's faces. "I think maybe Roy lost the fans. When you read those quotes about fans not getting behind him - that was a decision that backfired on him. "Plus when you arrive at the training ground and see 'Hodgson out' - once you see that the fans are well offside with you, you have virtually no chance." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed his sympathy for Hodgson. "I am shocked because I rate Roy Hodgson as a great manager," Wenger said after his side's 1-1 FA Cup draw with Leeds at the Emirates Stadium. "It puts our job into perspective because he was manager of the year in July. "It shows you how quickly we lose our qualities because he had to go six months later. Of course it is a shock and I feel our job suffers today." Blackburn manager Steve Kean expressed his disappointment at Hodgson's departure, describing the 63-year-old as a "quality coach". "I was hoping he would get more time to stamp his mark on the squad but Liverpool have made the decision," Kean said. "I am sure the fans will be right behind Kenny and the Kop will be really backing their team again and that will be something to probably spark them into life." Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, himself under pressure at Aston Villa, said Hodgson had been the victim of a "brutal world". Houllier said: "Roy got manager of the year last season so he was a great manager then and he still is today. "He's a fantastic person, I know him well but this world has become brutal, I mean it - if you lose two games you are in the firing line. "I feel for him but Kenny [Dalglish] has been a friend for a long time too." Blackpool boss Ian Holloway, whose side won 2-1 at Anfield at the start of October, backed Hodgson to bounce back. "It's a sign of the times," he said. "Liverpool had stability over the years, they are one of the best clubs in the world. Everyone should have a good look at themselves. "I feel sorry for Roy, he's a great manager. I'm sure he's devastated, I'm sure he'll get another job."
