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Departing Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has tempered expectations and feels fans should not expect too much of his replacement.

It was announced on Wednesday that the veteran tactician would be leaving Selhurst Park after nearly four years in charge. He took over in September 2017 and has helped establish the Eagles as a creditable force in the Premier League. Having finished 14th last term, they currently sit 13th and have already taken on more point than last season’s tally of 43.

Relegation has never been an issue and the south London outfit seems on a strong footing for the future. Speculation has been mounting as to who might replace the former England chief.

Frank Lampard emerged as an early favourite. But the former Chelsea chief appears to have ruled himself out of the running.

There will doubtless be many names put forward in the coming days and weeks until an appointment is made. But Hodgson has warned against unrealistic targets for his successor.

Asked whether it was time for the club to ‘push on’ to the next level, he remains cautious.

“I think you have to be careful about pushing on,” he said. “What is pushing on? I do think I have left a very stable base. They may well get better.

“It would be unfair on the new manager to say ‘Hodgson has kept them in the middle of the table for four years now take them to Europe’.”

Anfield a fitting end for Hodgson

Palace are set to face Liverpool in Hodgson’s final game in charge. The Merseyside club does not hold too many happy memories for the 73-year-old.

He spent 31 games in charge of the Reds between July 2010 and January 2011. Things did not work out and a record of only 13 wins was never going to be enough to keep his job.

But he bounced back to manage England and West Brom before arriving at Palace. While there are a few games with nothing riding on them this Sunday, that is not the case at Anfield.

Victory for the capital outfit could see Jurgen Klopp’s side miss out on a place in the Champions League. The much-travelled tactician insists his charges will do all they can to take the three points.

And he joked that he and his men will be enemy number one if they do pull off a shock victory.

“We might not get out of Anfield if we win,” he added. “We might be locked in the dressing room.

“I don’t know if we can be good enough to go to Anfield to win but I do know the 11 players with the Crystal Palace shirt on will do everything to do so.”

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