Liverpool has decided to make a change at manager, firing Brendan Rodgers after more than three years on the job following the 1-1 draw in the Merseyside Derby against Everton. Liverpool has struggled to play consistent football over the last year and they are now 10th in the Premier League standings and names like Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klinsmann and Frank de Boer have emerged as replacement options.
UPDATE: Klopp is having talks with Liverpool. Check here for more.
According to the BBC, Liverpool "sacked" Rodgers following the draw, but reports had the decision made before the game for the club. The team released a statement following the match and said that while it was a "difficult decision," the team felt it was the best way to achieve more "success" moving forward. The BBC reports that names like Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti and Frank de Boer have been "linked" to the job in recent weeks, while Klinsmann is a longshot option, as he coaches the USA men's national team.
Liverpool has been off to a slow start this season and the team has won four of the 11 games they have played in the Premier League and other competitions, including the Capital One Cup. Rodgers previously took the team to a second place finish in 2014 after they could not hold on for the victory after being in first place with three games left. Man City won the title that season.
The report says that the club made the decision to relieve Rodgers before the match, but did not want to "disrupt preparations" for the game by making the move before the Merseyside Derby. The team has undergone some major changes over the past few years, as players like Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard have departed. The team spent a lot of money this season, including on players like Christian Benteke and Danny Ings.
Check here for more on Rodgers.
The team statement: "Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for success on the pitch. The search for a new manager is under way and we hope to make an appointment in a decisive and timely manner."