Gerro in apology to axed Hodgson

Posted Tuesday, March 29, 2011 by The Sun

STEVEN GERRARD will greet Roy Hodgson this weekend with the words: We let you down.

The Liverpool skipper is set to return from a month out following groin surgery for Saturday's trip to West Brom - managed by former Kop boss Hodgson.

It will be the first time the Reds have met their old gaffer since he was dumped in January after a nightmare six months in charge at Anfield.

Hodgson carried the can for a shocking first half of the season, but Gerrard thinks the players are just as guilty.

The midfielder insisted: "He's such a good guy and a fantastic coach, but it just didn't work out for him at Liverpool.

"The players didn't perform consistently and we have to take responsibility.

"It's not acceptable for Liverpool to be outside the European positions but you can't just point the finger at the manager - we have to look at ourselves."

Hodgson was up against it from day one with Anfield fans who had been desperate for Kenny Dalglish to get the job.

Gerrard knows terrace unrest also played its part in Hodgson eventually being chopped in favour of King Kenny.

He added: "They idolise Kenny and when a decision was made that Rafa Benitez was going to leave, the two front runners were Dalglish or Hodgson - and the fans absolutely love Kenny.

"Every time there were a couple of bad results or maybe the tactics were slightly wrong or we went a goal behind, the fans were getting on the manager's back."

Centre-back Jamie Carragher reckons Hodgson was on a hiding to nothing - because he inherited such a mess.

He said: "You could say Rafa had been there a long time and it was still his team really.

"If you have not done that well for two years, it's not the new manager's fault. You've got to look at the squad and ask 'Are we doing enough or are we good enough?'

"We also lost Javier Mascherano, taking one of the best players out of a team that's finished seventh.

"We're trying to build Liverpool back up but sometimes as a group we're not good enough."

Brazilian midfielder Lucas is still no nearer to signing a new deal at Anfield.

Napoli are willing to pay around £5million to sign him.