Brendan Rodgers has been sacked by Liverpool Football Club with immediate effect after Sunday's 1-1 derby draw with Everton.
The Northern Irishman, who joined from Swansea City in the summer of 2012-13, has been sacked after a disappointing 18 months - despite surviving a scrutinous end-of-season review at the start of the summer.
The decision has been taken to terminate his contract just eight games into the Premier League season, leeaving the club in 10th with just 12 points.
He had suggested the end of his tenure was near at Goodison Park, after his side had earned a hard-fought draw against their bitter rivals.
Asked about the task at hand, Rodgers replied it would be a rebuilding job at the club regardless of whether it was him or someone else at the helm.
They are now actively looking at capable replacements for him, with out-of-work managers Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti amongst the candidates supporters have been clamouring for, whilst Ajax boss Frank de Boer recently admitted the Anfield job would interest him.
Reds pull the plug on Rodgers after poor season
After his appointment in the summer of 2012 in the wake of Kenny Dalglish's departure, Rodgers' first season was much about progress - as the January additions of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho spurred an excellent second half of the season.
The next year, Rodgers came excruciatingly close to leading the Reds to their first league title in 2013-14, as a swashbuckling side fired 101 goals in a breathtaking campaign - but they fell away in the final three games of the campaign, finishing three points away from winning the title.
Named as LMA's Manager of the Year in May, Rodgers signed a new long-term contract with the club just a few weeks later - saluting the boss as a "hugely talented individual" at the same time as he nearly ended their 24-year wait for domestic success.
But poor form since the loss of Luis Suarez, leading them to a sixth-placed finish after a dreadful capitulation which saw them lose 6-1 at Stoke City on the final day of the campaign.
Nevertheless, the club kept faith in the 42-year-old for the 2015-16 season and trusted him with upwards of £80 million in the summer to get the Reds back to their performance levels of previous years.
But despite a number of their summer signings performing well since being brought in, Rodgers has struggled to turn his side's form around - scoring more than one goal just once in 11 games and winning only three inside 90 minutes.
FSG thank Rodgers for his "significant" efforts as manager
As such, he has been sacked - though he has been wished well by the club's owners. In a joint Fenway Sports Group statement, written by Principal Owner John W Henry, Chairman Tom Werner and President Mike Gordon gave Rodgers their "sincere thanks" for the "significant contribution" he has made to the club over the last few years.
They expressed their gratitude for his "hard work and commitment" and saluted the "wonderful moments" the club enjoyed with Rodgers as the club's manager.
They insisted their confidence in his future, saying he will "enjoy a long career in the game." They stated that the decision was a difficult one, but said it provides them with "the best opportunity for success on the pitch."
FSG added that "ambition and winning" are central to what they wish to bring to the Merseyside club, adding that the managerial change gives them the "best opportunity" to deliver that.
They further stated to supporters that the search for a new manager "is underway" and that they hope to make a new appointment "in a decisive and timely manner."