Manchester United have sacked manager Jose Mourinho.
The club said he had left with immediate effect, adding they "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 searches for a new full-time manager.
Sky Sports News understands Manchester United coach Michael Carrick will take charge for the next 48 hours, after which an external appointment will be made for the caretaker manager post.
Manchester United has announced that Jose Mourinho has left the Club.
We would like to thank him for his work during his time at Manchester United and wish him success in the future. #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 18, 2018
Manchester United have made their worst start to a league season since 1990-91 and sit sixth in the Premier League.
Mourinho's side lost 3-1 to Liverpool on Sunday, as two deflected Xherdan Shaqiri strikes took the Reds to the top of the table.
In contrast, the result left United 11 points off the top four, who qualify for the Champions League, and 19 points behind top place.
The Portuguese, 55, had been in charge at Old Trafford for two and a half years, but, despite winning the EFL Cup and the Europa League in his first full season, he has rarely appeared settled.
The team, which is expected to at least challenge for the league title every season, had a best finish of second under him, last season, but they were 19 points behind winners Manchester City.
Mourinho only signed a new two-year contract committing him to the club until 2020, in January, but over the summer his relationship with the United board began to disintegrate.
He had wanted at least one new centre-back but he did not get one, with the club signing £50m midfielder Fred, Porto youngster Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant as a backup goalkeeper.
A running theme of his time in charge, his failure to get the best out of record signing Paul Pogba, began to affect the rest of the squad as United started this season with a run of two defeats in the first three matches.
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Mourinho recently called the French world cup winner a "virus" and publicly criticised several players, including Luke Shaw.
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