The following day, Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri visited Finch Farm and kept the players after training to speak to them, in a clear sign that the end had come for Silva.

It took some time, but later on Thursday evening it became clear that the club had decided to sack SIlva after an unsuccessful 18 months in charge.

Duncan Ferguson has taken temporary charge and will lead the team against Chelsea on Saturday but David Moyes remains the odds-on favourite to replace Silva.

Silva has looked like a beaten man in recent weeks, but the club did not pull the trigger until after the game at Anfield, when the performance on the pitch descended into unacceptable levels.

Silva won just 19 of his 53 Premier League games in charge of Everton and the club felt they needed to make a change as they face a testing trip to Chelsea next up on Saturday as part of a nightmare run of fixtures.

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