Manchester United have sacked manager Jose Mourinho after Sunday's defeat to Liverpool left them languishing 11 points off the top four.

Second-half goals from Xherdan Shaqiri hammered the final nail into Mourinho's coffin as the Red Devils slumped to a fifth defeat of the season from just 17 league matches.

A statement from United on Tuesday morning said: "The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.

"A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager."

Despite navigating United through their Champions League group, Mourinho failed to build on last season's second-place finish as the club's hopes of finishing in the top four all-but evaporated before Christmas. 

A disappointing shootout defeat in the League Cup to Championship Derby at Old Trafford ended another avenue of silverware for Mourinho.

It prematurely ends a project which started brightly for Mourinho, who won the EFL Cup and Europa League during his first campaign at the club, the 2016-17 season.

His side then posed the greatest challenge to Pep Guardiola's Centurions last term, but the failure to adequately improve the squad in the summer ultimately cost Mourinho his job.

Zinedine Zidane, who won the Champions League in three successive seasons as Real Madrid manager before departing in the summer, is the front-runner, with Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino also in the frame. 

Next Manchester United Manager odds | Betfair 

10/11 Zinedine Zidane 

5/1 Mauricio Pochettino 

5/1 Laurent Blanc 

4/1 Antonio Conte 

33/1 Massimiliano Allegri 

33/1 Eddie Howe 

22/1 Leonardo Jardim 

33/1 Ryan Giggs 

33/1 Brendan Rodgers 

33/1 Diego Simeone