Jurgen Klopp is the leading candidate to replace Brendan Rodgers after the Ulsterman was on Saturday night sacked as Liverpool manager.

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Just hours after a 1-1 draw in the 225th Merseyside derby Rodgers was informed, via a trans-Atlantic phone call from an unnamed member of the management executive of owners Fenway Sports Group, that his time was up.

Despite backing him in the summer with an £80 million (Dh446m) transfer kitty after a woeful finish to the 2014-15 season the Americans, led by principal owner John W Henry, decided their experiment with a young, progressive manager was over and the understanding is the board will now go with a more experienced coach.

Klopp has been out of work since the end of last season when he resigned at Borussia Dortmund but has long been considered as a potential manager for the Reds.

Reports in Bosnia, the home country of Klopp’s assistant at Dortmund, Zeljko Buvac, were claiming a contract with the German manager has been agreed.

Just four wins in his last 14 Premier League matches effectively did for Rodgers with FSG needing little persuasion to make a U-turn after sticking by him in June.

Rodgers, who met with close ally Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s chief executive, after receiving the phone call from the United States is understood to have taken the decision with dignity – which partly suggests he half-expected what was coming.

“Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for success on the pitch,” said a joint statement from Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon.

“Ambition and winning are at the heart of what we want to bring to Liverpool and we believe this change gives us the best opportunity to deliver it.

“The search for a new manager is under way and we hope to make an appointment in a decisive and timely manner.”

There has been speculation Rodgers was a dead man walking and the timing of his sacking – at the start of the international break – is no coincidence.

It is believed Liverpool hope to have a new man in place for when the players return from international duty so he is given the best possible chance to get off to a good start away at Tottenham on October 17.