Brendan Rodgers was sacked over the phone, how Liverpool's owners dismissed the manager

The decision to axe the Northern Irishman was made prior to the Merseyside derby

Brendan Rodgers (GETTY IMAGES)

Brendan Rodgers was told he had been sacked as manager of Liverpool over the phone, it's understood.

According to reports, Rodgers had returned to Liverpool's Melwood training base following the Merseyside derby with Everton.

It was there that he spoke to Mike Gordon, the president of Fenway Sports Group.

It was usual practice for Rodgers to talk to a representative of the club's American owners after matches, however on this occasion the call was used to terminate the Norther Irishman's contract.

Whilst the axe dropped in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw with Everton, it's understood that the result of the Merseyside derby was meaningless, with the Boston based owners taking the decision to axe Rodgers last week.

The execution of the decision was delayed as not to to interrupt preparations for the game at Goodison Park and to give the club some breathing room in finding a replacement with no Liverpool game for two weeks due to the international break.