Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on Brendan Rodgers' sacking at Liverpool: 'I am sad... because I think he is a quality manager'

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Arsene Wenger expects to see Brendan Rodgers back in management after Liverpool sacked the Northern Irishman on Sunday.

Arsenal boss Wenger said Rodgers has shown he has the ability to manage at the highest level and admitted he was sorry to see him leave Anfield.

Speaking shortly after Liverpool announced Rodgers had departed, Wenger said: 'I am always sad when that happens because I think he is a quality manager.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wanger has said he is sad at news Brendan Rodgers has been sacked by Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers has been sacked as Liverpool manager only hours after a draw in the Merseyside derby

Owners Fenway Sports Group thanked Rodgers for the 'significant contribution' he made in his three years

Jurgen Klopp, the former Borussia Dormund boss, is the early favourite with the bookmakers to takeover

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 'Unfortunately, the pressure is always bigger on the managers and to resist the disappointment is more difficult.

'I think he was unlucky not to win the Premier League. He was the closest certainly to win the Premier League of all the managers who have been working for the club.

'But that's the way it goes now and I wish him good luck. I am sure he will find a job again.' 

Further support for Rodgers came from his former club Swansea, where manager Garry Monk was stunned by Liverpool's decision.

'I can't believe that. A very, very harsh decision. I don't think he deserved that at all,' said Monk, who played under Rodgers at the south Wales club.

'He is a top manager. You don't know what goes on behind closed doors but I was surprised.

'I will speak to him at some point. He was fantastic here at Swansea. I can't see who else is going to do a better job for Liverpool at this moment in time so I am sad to hear that.

'I learned so much from him - he gave me the in-depth insight to be a manager and he is a top man as well. I am very surprised. It doesn't make sense to me, to be honest.'

Swansea boss Garry Monk has expressed his surprise and called the sacking a 'very, very harsh decision'

Brendan Rodgers (right) looks dejected while Roberto Martinez (left) celebrates Everton's equaliser