Jame Carragher has profusely denied claims that former team-mate Steven Gerrard purposely missed a penalty in an attempt to get Roy Hodgson dismissed from his disastrous spell as Liverpool boss.
The 75-year-old endured a forgetful six-month reign in the Anfield hot seat between July 2010 and January 2011 after he was appointed as Rafa Benitez's successor on Merseyside. However, with Liverpool undergoing wholesale changes off the field, Hodgson's stint was nothing short of a catastrophe which culminated in the former Fulham manager claiming that the Reds were not exempt from a relegation battle after they found themselves in the bottom three in October 2010.
Hodgson's nightmare, however, would end in January 2011 when the Reds suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. During the game, Gerrard had the chance to half the deficit late on when Liverpool were awarded a spot-kick, but the Reds' captain blazed his effort over the crossbar in what was an uncharacteristic-like attempt.
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In the years since, many supporters have speculated whether Gerrard purposely missed his effort in a bid to heighten the pressure on Hodgson and have him dismissed from his duties at Anfield.
But former team-mate, close friend and Liverpool vice-captain Carragher has rubbished such ridiculous theories and instead revealed that he felt sorry for Hodgson during his time on Merseyside and labelled his appointment as "wrong" by Anfield officials.
"No, that is not true," said Carragher, on The Diary of a CEO podcast, when asked about Gerrard's failed spot-kick eleven years ago. "Nothing like that. I felt sorry for him.
"Roy had a tough time at the club. He just wasn't the right manager for the club and they moved him on for 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."
He added: "He had success in his career playing that way and he wasn't going to change that when he was in his sixties - it was just the wrong appointment."
That humiliating night in Lancashire transpired to be the last match of Hodgson's rule at Liverpool as the club dismissed the veteran figure to appoint icon Kenny Dalglish for a second stint as manager. The Scot, who won the European Cup on three occasions during his playing days with the Reds, would be tasked with steadying the ship on Merseyside following a turbulent calendar year.
But after impressing during the remainder of the 2010-11 season, Dalglish would be appointed on a permanent basis and later achieve League Cup success in February 2012, before guiding the club to the FA Cup final in the same season. However, after a below-par eight-place finish in the Premier League, the Scot would be sacked in May 2012.
Meanwhile, Hodgson would later manage West Brom, England, Crystal Palace and Watford before retiring in May 2022.
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