Carlo and Klopp favourites for Kop

Everton 1 Liverpool 1: Liverpool began their search for a new manager last night after the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group sacked Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers watched his side battle to a 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby against Everton and showed no signs in his post-match press conference that he was a man about to lose his job. Rodgers had spoken after the match of a “constant rebuilding” job at Anfield and that he did not “feel under any pressure”.

However, Rodgers was informed personally by Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre at his home shortly afterwards that he would be relieved of his duties.

It is understood that FSG had already made the decision to remove Rodgers from his position before the game, but did not want to disrupt preparations for the derby.

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, Ajax boss Frank de Boer and ex-Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp have been linked with the job recently.

Klopp would be a popular choice among Liverpool’s supporters but the club’s hierarchy are believed to have reservations about the extrovert German.

In a joint statement FSG principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon vowed to have the new man in place quickly. “The search for a new manager is underway and we hope to make an appointment in a decisive and timely manner,” it said.

“Ambition and winning are at the heart of what we want to bring to Liverpool and we believe this change gives us the best opportunity to deliver it.

“Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for success on the pitch.”

Rodgers, who took over from Kenny Dalglish in June 2012, led Liverpool to second place in the 2013-14 Premier League campaign, when they led a thrilling title race with three games to go but were pipped by Manchester City. However, Liverpool finished a disappointing sixth last season and ended the campaign with a humiliating 6-1 defeat away to Stoke City having won just one of their last six games.

The Reds also succumbed meekly to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals, which meant Rodgers became the first manager since the 1950s not to bring a trophy to Anfield within his first three seasons. Despite their underwhelming finish Rodgers was backed by FSG in the transfer market during the summer and spent £80m on new players including Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne.

Liverpool began the season with 1-0 wins over Stoke and Bournemouth in the league but defeats to Manchester United and West Ham followed by a draw at home to Norwich saw the pressure mount on Rodgers as Anfield grew increasingly restless. The Reds required penalties to beat League Two Carlisle in the League Cup and there has been little respite for Rodgers in Europe with 1-1 draws against Bordeaux and Sion.

Jamie Carragher reckons the writing was on the wall for Rodgers. “Brendan needed to make a good start to the season because he was fortunate to stay on at the end of last season,” Carragher said.

“His staff were moved on, they spent £80m, but seven games later Liverpool are changing their manager. That’s what I don’t like about it. Do it in the summer.”

Carragher also launched a stinging attack on Liverpool’s owners FSG. He added: “The owners’ track record of making decisions for Liverpool over the past two or three years has not been good enough. Brendan has spent nearly £300m in his time there but what situation do Liverpool currently find themselves in? Liverpool have won one Carling Cup in 10 years. The big clubs aren’t worried about Liverpool anymore.”

Everton (4-2-3-1):

Howard 6; Galloway 7, Funes Mori 7, Jagielka 7, Browning 6; McCarthy 7, Barry 5; Deulofeu 6 (Lennon 6; 60), Naismith 5 (Kone 6; 79), Barkley 6; Lukaku 8.

Liverpool (3-4-1-2):

Mignolet 7; Can 5, Skrtel 5, Sakho 7; Clyne 6, Lucas 6 (Allen 5; 79), Milner 7, Moreno 6; Coutinho 6; Ings 7 (Lallana 76; 5), Sturridge 5