Steven Gerrard has admitted that Roy Hodgson’s time at Liverpool was ‘uncomfortable’.
Hodgson succeeded Rafael Benitez as manager in summer 2010 but lasted barely six months before he was replaced by Reds legend Kenny Dalglish.
Liverpool found themselves 12th in the Premier League table by the time that the veteran journeyman coach vacated the Anfield hot seat in January 2011.
And Gerrard, back at his boyhood club as under-18 coach, revealed that the final weeks of Hodgson’s short-lived reign were a difficult period for all concerned.
“Roy Hodgson’s final days and weeks were very tough for him personally, but you could feel it as a player,” he told BT Sport.
“Before Roy was announced to be the manager, the majority of the fans wanted Kenny in anyway.
“When Kenny came the atmosphere changed in the ground and the club, and the players got a lift from that.
“It was uncomfortable playing in the atmosphere under Roy. It felt tense and you could feel the players going into a shell.
“You know yourself when you’re playing and the crowd are tense, getting on the players’ and team’s back, you don’t try something or you play it safe.
“That’s me talking as an experienced player and captain, so it probably had a bigger effect on other players.”