OFFICIAL: Everton sack Koeman

Everton have sacked Ronald Koeman after Sunday's 5-2 defeat to Arsenal left them with just two wins from their first nine Premier League games.

Koeman was backed heavily during the transfer window, as Everton spent a reported £142million on new players.

But the Merseyside club have flattered to deceive despite showing some early signs of promise, with the Toffees winning just once in the league since drawing 1-1 at Manchester City in their second game of the season.

They showed some fight when rescuing a late draw at Brighton and Hove Albion on October 15, but the result did little to paper over their failings.

That draw was then followed by a 2-1 defeat at home to Lyon in the Europa League, with the club guilty of another abject performance, leaving them bottom of Group E with just a single point from three matches.

And Sunday's result proved to be the final straw for Koeman, who departs just over 16 months after leaving Southampton for Goodison Park.

A club statement read: "Everton Football Club can conform that Ronald Koeman has left the club. Chiarman Bill Kenwright, the board of directors and major shareholder Farhad Moshiri would all like to express their gratitude to Ronaldo for the service he has given to the club over the past 16 months and for guiding the club to seventh place in last season's Premier League campaign."

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— Everton (@Everton) 23 October 2017