Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he was shocked by Roy Hodgson' departure from Liverpool yesterday.

Wenger was among several Premier League managers to sympathise with Hodgson yesterday.

"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."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis added: "I don't think anybody likes to see managers get sacked.

"That is a situation that was just festering and festering and I am disappointed for Roy, because you had an English manager there coming into a big club."