Everton have sacked Marco Silva after dropping into the relegation zone.

The decision was made after a 5-2 thrashing away to a weakened Liverpool side at Anfield in the Merseyside derby.

Silva took the job in May 2018 having been courted by the Toffees previously during his time at Watford.

Everton have won just one of their last six games and have taken just 14 points from their opening 15 games, with a goal difference of -11.

Having gone to such lengths to appoint him in the first place, the board were reluctant to wield the axe.

However, results and performances have not been good enough this season, a defeat at home to Norwich City prompting chants of "sacked in the morning" from his own fans.

Silva was initially expected to be sacked after that game and was only spared because the Everton hierarchy could not agree on a successor.

Owner Farhad Moshiri has reportedly been keen to delay taking action on the Portuguese until a new manager has been lined up, having made that mistake when Ronald Koeman was axed two years ago.

David Moyes is now the favourite to take over, six-and-a-half years after leaving Goodison Park to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Tim Cahill is being considered as an assistant.

Silva can perhaps count himself unlucky given the fine margins and late VAR drama that led to Leicester's 2-1 win last weekend.

For a coach who once promised so much and looked a breath of fresh air in his early days at Hull City and Watford, it is a pity to see his stock fall so low after what has ultimately been a disastrous spell.

In truth, he has been a dead man walking for a long time it was only a matter of time before Everton moved to save their season.