Sunday 4 October 2015 20:58, UK
Everton and Liverpool shared the points as an even Merseyside derby finished 1-1 in what proved to be Brendan Rodgers' final game in charge.
Liverpool's poor run was extended to one win in nine games as Danny Ings' header was cancelled out by Romelu Lukaku at Goodison Park, and Rodgers' sacking was confirmed just a few hours later.
Here, we look back on the top talking points from an eventful afternoon on Merseyside...
Rodgers sacked
According to Sky sources, Rodgers was only informed of his sacking over the phone in the wake of the Merseyside derby. He leaves the club in 10th place, but Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher feels he was lucky not to lose his job after last season's sixth-placed finish.
"He was maybe fortunate in terms of staying on at the end of last season," Carragher said on Super Sunday. "His staff moved on, new staff came in, he's spent £80m and then seven games later Liverpool are changing a manager - that's what I don't like about that.
"Just do it in the summer if that's the situation. It finished poorly, if you look at the semi-final against Aston Villa, games against Hull, Palace and that finish at Stoke so he was lucky to keep his job.
"I'd prefer them to have done it in the summer but he's been there three and a bit years, he hasn't won a trophy and they've played Champions League football once. That's not good enough for Liverpool."
Ings strikes again
Daniel Sturridge's two-goal return against Aston Villa rather overshadowed the recent performances of Ings in the build-up to this game, but the former Burnley man continued his good form by scoring in his first Merseyside derby. His close-range header was his third goal in his last five appearances, and he is now the Reds' top scorer in all competitions.
It capped a pleasing week for Ings, who has just earned his first call-up to Roy Hodgson's England squad. The 23-year-old touched the ball fewer times than any of Liverpool's outfield players, but he found a team-mate with every one of his 11 passes, created one chance and scored when a chance arose.
"I love every goal I score no matter what game it is but today was special so it was great to get a header - I'm only a little man," he told Sky Sports after the game. "We created a lot of chances. I thought we were fantastic going in behind." Ings appeared to be limping after a coming together with Phil Jagielka, but he insisted he will be fit for international duty. He is already emerging as an important player for his club.
Lukaku shines for Everton
Everton may have only won one of the last 18 Merseyside derbies in the Premier League, but Lukaku certainly enjoys facing Liverpool. The Belgian striker's goal was his fifth in seven appearances against the Reds - making them his joint-favourite opposition - and he made it a difficult afternoon for Liverpool's defence.
Lukaku's performance was an exhibition in fine centre forward play. He pinned back Liverpool's defenders, held the ball up brilliantly and capitalised on his first sight of goal. Liverpool's defending was chaotic for the goal, and Lukaku punished them by keeping a cool head and finishing quickly and clinically beyond Simon Mignolet.
Lukaku praised his fellow Everton players in his post-match interview, and admitted it was disappointing not to take all three points. "Credit to my team-mates, I work hard every single day in training but they keep me on my toes and help me improve," he said. "I want to help them win the game; today it didn't work but I will work harder to win the next game."
Liverpool's defensive difficulties
Rodgers leaves Liverpool still unsure of his preferred personnel - or system - in defence. The former Swansea manager continued with three at the back in Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho and Emre Can against Everton, with Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne as his wing-backs.
Their collective performance was far from convincing. Liverpool had Mignolet to thank for excellent saves from Steven Naismith and James McCarthy, and they have now gone eight games in all competitions without keeping a clean sheet. The Sky Sports punditry team were particularly unimpressed by their defending for Everton's goal.
Emre Can was guilty of horribly miscuing his clearance, but Souness felt Moreno was even more culpable for failing to close down Gerard Deulofeu and turning away from his cross. "OK, it's a wicked ball by Deulofeu but Moreno turns his back on it," he said.
"That' a goal that was so avoidable. It's people not doing their job. What's the worst thing that could happen [to Moreno], he gets hit in the chops with the ball, so the physio comes on? Big deal. This is a derby match. Liverpool are desperate for a result here. That's a player neglecting his duties at a vital time."
Everton cope without Stones and Coleman
Everton, on the other hand, fared rather better in a defensive sense. The absences of John Stones and Seamus Coleman made Liverpool slight favourites, according to Carragher in the build-up to the game, but their makeshift backline impressed at Goodison Park.
Between them, Ramiro Funes Mori, Brendan Galloway and Tyias Browning had made a combined total of just 16 Premier League appearances, but their inexperience didn't show, and Jagielka's leadership proved invaluable.
I thought the two young full-backs were outstanding as well as Jagielka, who kept them in the game at times.
Jagielka made two crucial near post clearances in the first half, and Funes Mori produced an equally assured display after a difficult evening in Everton's 3-2 win over West Brom last Monday. The Argentine made more tackles and interceptions combined (nine) than anyone else on the pitch, and one vital intervention prevented Sturridge from racing through on goal in the closing stages.
Carragher was impressed by the whole unit. "I thought the two young full-backs were outstanding as well as Jagielka, who kept them in the game at times," he said.
