Chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale delivered the news to Rafa Benitez that he had been sacked but the Spanish coach had an air of resignation about him following the defeat to Norwich City on Saturday night.
Everton's power brokers could not understand why, in such a high-stakes game, Richarlison and Yerry Mina were left on the bench and the fact that the squad looked fearful was of grave concern to them too.
The message from the top of the club was that no rash decisions were going to be made but it was clear, even in the immediate aftermath of the 2-1 loss, that Benitez stood on the brink of the sack.
