'I was accidentally sold by Liverpool - they asked me to go back but I refused'

A former Liverpool player was accidentally sold by the Reds before refusing to go back when they asked him to return. The unusual incident took place during Roy Hodgson's ill-fated spell in the Anfield dugout. He only lasted six months, winning just seven Premier League games before being replaced by Kenny Dalglish.

Hodgson never managed to get Liverpool firing on all cylinders and paid the price when he was dismissed in early 2011. He made many mistakes but one lesser-known blunder saw him mistakenly sell a player to his former club Fulham. Hodgson was intent on signing Paul Konchesky and went to great lengths to ensure a deal was done.

Liverpool offered a fee of £3.5million and included young striker Lauri Dalla Valle, who made one senior Reds appearance, as part of the package. They also sent Alexander Kacaniklic to Craven Cottage but Hodgson did not realise this until it was too late.

Kacaniklic, who came through Liverpool's youth ranks but never played for the senior team, revealed his side of the story on a fotbolskananelen podcast in 2019.

He said: "Before I signed [for Fulham], I had a conversation with Roy Hodgson on the phone, where we concluded that he replaced the wrong Alex. In his head, he thought he was trading away another Alex for Konchesky, but then it was too late. It's a bit funny."

After realising his mistake, Hodgson told Kacaniklic that he could return to Anfield if he wanted to. However, the versatile winger was only interested in joining Fulham.

"He just told me that I was welcome back in Liverpool with open arms, but that I should do what I felt like," recalled Kacaniklic. "By then, I had already changed my mind and was very excited about coming to Fulham."

It turned out to be an inspired decision, with Kacaniklic going on to make 84 appearances for Fulham during a four-year spell at Craven Cottage.

He was not entirely happy with Hodgson, accusing him of undoing much of the good work carried out by his predecessor Rafael Benitez.

"It was a bit different, a big change," added Kacaniklic. "Benitez had been there before and made the club his own with everyone who worked at the club.

"When he left and took all his people with him, things got a little turbulent. Hodgson didn't look too much at us younger guys, he wanted quick results. He wanted Paul [Konchesky] from Fulham."