West Ham United are now seriously considering sacking Slaven Bilic in the next 24 hours, and installing David Moyes as manager.

The Croatian manager has suffered a dismal last 15 months in the job after an initially successful first season in 2015-16, and speculation about his future has never gone away in that time.

The West Ham owners had been reluctant to move on Bilic’s position in that time, especially without a suitable alternative, and had been constantly giving the manager space.

West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Show all 23 1 /23 West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings We run the rule over the two teams at the London Stadium. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Joe Hart - 4 Could have done better with Liverpool's first although left exposed throughout. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Cheikhou Kouyate - 4 Largely responsible for Liverpool's third. But then again, he's not a full-back. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Winston Reid - 5 Struggled against the pace of Mane and Salah. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Angelo Ogbonna - 5 Left Salah in acres of space for Liverpool's fourth. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Edimilson Fernandes - 3 Struggled in an unfamiliar position and was hauled off at half-time. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Mark Noble - 6 One of West Ham's better players although he was overran in midfield. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Pedro Obiang - 5 Fairly anonymous performance. AFP/Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Aaron Cresswell - 5 Was unable to get forward and struggled in defence. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Andre Ayew - 5 Missed a chance early on and didn't get much better. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Manuel Lanzini - 7 West Ham's best player and did well with his goal, although missed a sitter moments later. AFP/Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Javier Hernandez - 5 Struggled up front on his own and withdrawn in the second-half. AFP/Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Simon Mignolet - 6 Captain for the evening. Didn't do much for his confidence. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Joe Gomez - 7 A good performance from the youngster. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Joel Matip - 8 Took his goal well. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Ragnar Klavan - 6 Looked shaky at times and not the long-term solution to Liverpool's defensive troubles. Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Alberto Moreno - 7 A better performance from the Spaniard. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum - 7 Worked tirelessly in a deeper position for Liverpool. AFP/Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Emre Can - 8 Another good performance from Can. How Liverpool hope he will stay at the club beyond this season. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7 Scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in a more advanced position. AFP/Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Mohamed Salah - 9 Superb. Scored two great goals and could have had a hat-trick. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Sadio Mane - 8 Combined nicely with Salah after his surprise inclusion in the starting XI. Liverpool FC via Getty Images West Ham vs Liverpool: Player ratings Roberto Firmino - 7 Worked hard but should have scored in the second-half when he dragged his close-range shot wide. Getty Images

That only led to more speculation over his future, though, and Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat by Liverpool has led to a realisation that the situation is now unfixable and they need to act before getting drawn into a relegation battle by Christmas.

Contact has been made through intermediaries with Moyes, who is both eager to get back into management and restore his reputation after a sorry relegation at Sunderland last season and two prior failed jobs at Manchester United and Real Sociedad. West Ham are banking on that resolve reinvigorating both Moyes and the club.