Embarrassment in victory is rare in competitive sport but Liverpool achieved that unwanted and unlikely combination at Anfield last night. If needing a penalty shoot-out to defeat Carlisle United, of Sky Bet League Two, highlighted their slump in form, the resentment that another pitiful performance provoked among their own fans will only fuel speculation about the future of Brendan Rodgers.

A day that began with Liverpool having to deny claims of an approach to Carlo Ancelotti ended with an ignominious night in which the home team were booed on three separate occasions by the Anfield crowd, a wholly unprecedented occurrence. Liverpool may have eventually seen off Carlisle’s brave resistance but the cost to their manager’s reputation and his chances of retaining his position is unlikely