After a 1-1 draw against Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Sunday, Brendan Rodgers has been relieved of his role as Liverpool’s manager.
The news ends a period of highs and lows for the Northern Irishman, who spent three colourful years and four months at Anfield but was unable to secure silverware for the historic club.
With odds shortening on Jurgen Klopp’s potential arrival in the former Swansea City manager’s place, it is certainly valid to examine just why Rodgers was given his marching orders.
To dismiss a manager after only eight games of the new season, with the side a mere three points adrift of the top four, could be seen as rash in some corners.
As such, here are three reasons why Rodgers was shown the Anfield exit door.
Recruitment during his tenure
Just how much of a role the Northern Irishman has played in signing new players over the space of his time at Liverpool remains to be seen, with a host of other figures having input on what new faces arrived at Anfield.
Regardless of this, Rodgers was charged with getting the best from the new men but more often than not has failed in this regard.
Taking the likes of Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge out of the equation, a host of players have worn the prestigious red shirt in recent seasons but not looked anywhere near up to the task - this botched recruitment process clearly has had a role in Rodgers being sacked, either directly or indirectly.
Failure to win the Premier League in 2013-14
Rodgers’ crowning period at the Anfield helm will be the second half of the 2013-14 campaign, where Liverpool looked for all money to be set for a memorable Premier League title success.
While Sturridge, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling in unplayable mood, the Reds displayed some scintillating football but were pipped at the post by Manchester City after a draw at Crystal Palace and defeat at home to Chelsea.
Despite Rodgers deserving credit for being the tactician behind this run of form and the subsequent second-placed finish, had the Northern Irishman finished the job and lifted the title he would surely still be at the club today - despite the questionable form of the team since.
Last season’s capitulation and 6-1 hammering at Stoke
After a slow start to last season following the departure of Suarez and an influx of new faces, Liverpool started to get their act together and put forward a run of note that looked destined to end in Champions League qualification.
However, defeat in the FA Cup semi-finals against a modest Aston Villa, inconsistent league form in the last six weeks of the campaign and a last-day 6-1 humbling at the Britannia Stadium left a very sour taste in the collective mouth.
The players appeared to have stopped listening to Rodgers’ message and this capitulation was the beginning of the end for the former Reds boss, who could even have been sacked in the summer as a result.