Chelsea fires coach Liam Rosenior amid historic skid

Chelsea hired Liam Rosenior as their head coach in January. Photo by David Cliff/EPA

April 22 (UPI) -- Chelsea fired manager Liam Rosenior after five consecutive Premier League shutout losses, their most since 1912, the Blues announced Wednesday.

The dismissal came a day after Brighton beat Chelsea 3-0 on Tuesday in Brighton, England. The Blues were outscored 11-0 during their five-game league skid.

Rosenior joined the Blues in January, a month after the Blues split with former coach Enzo Maresca. Callum McFarlane will take over as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

"On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the club," Chelsea said in a news release.

"Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season. This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly.

"However recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future."

The Blues (13-12-9) sit in seventh place in the Premier League standings, two points behind sixth-place Brighton. They are 22 points behind first-place Arsenal (21-5-7).

They will battle Leeds in an FA Cup semifinal at 10 a.m. EDT Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London. The Blues will host 16th-place Nottingham Forest (9-15-9) in their next league match Monday at Stamford Bridge in London.