• 'He tried his best for this football club,' says Dalglish • Manager also claims fans 'taken for granted' by FA

Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool supporters will give Roy Hodgson a "warm welcome" when he returns to Anfield for the first time since he was sacked by the club.

Hodgson, who is now West Bromwich Albion's manager after losing his job at Anfield in January 2011, was heavily criticised by Liverpool fans in his eight-month spell at the club, but Dalglish believes the home supporters will show him their respect.

"It will be good to see Roy. To see him back at Anfield – obviously we've played them down there already – will be good and I'm sure he'll get a warm reception from the supporters," said Dalglish, who succeeded Hodgson as manager. "He's a man with real integrity and dignity and he tried his best for this football club. I'm sure the supporters will respect that.

"As a person I respect him tremendously so he'll get a warm welcome from us. He's done very well [at West Brom]. He's a good coach and manager. He's got a lot of experience behind him. Last year at West Brom he kept them up, this year they've easily stayed up."

Liverpool go into the game having reached the FA Cup final on 5 May following last Saturday's victory over Everton but Dalglish expressed sympathy for fans he believes have been "taken for granted" after receiving 7,000 fewer tickets (25,000) for the final than the semi-final as well as the scheduling of the match on a day when there will be severe rail disruption.

"Sometimes that is the problem when fans are taken for granted – not just our fans but those at all football clubs," said Dalglish. "That is the decision which has been made and it's been made outside of our control. It could have been made a bit easier for them but they are fantastic fans and they will get there."