Belgian champion Genk has fired coach Felice Mazzu with the club at mid-table in its domestic league, and last in a Champions League group led by Liverpool.

Genk says in a statement the team is trending "ever more negative, and club management does not have the feeling that the current technical staff can still turn things around."

Mazzu was appointed in the offseason after six years at Charleroi. He replaced Philippe Clement, who returned to his former club Club Brugge.

Clement has Brugge five points clear at the top of the league, and held Real Madrid to 2-2 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the Champions League.

Genk started its Champions League group losing at Salzburg 6-2, and was beaten twice by Liverpool in recent weeks.