Gravenberch red card controversy as City thrash Liverpool at Anfield

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 11 Oct, 20:19 · Archive

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute of a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, a decision both his manager and pundit Jamie Carragher disputed.

Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute of Liverpool's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, with the match goalless at the time. The Dutch midfielder received his second yellow card for a challenge on City's Jeremy Doku. His dismissal proved pivotal, as Manchester City scored three goals after his departure.

Gravenberch had received his first yellow card shortly after half-time for a foul on City midfielder Elliot Anderson. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola disputed both cautions. He told Sky Sports that the first booking was unjustified, saying: 'The first one is not a yellow. Anderson carries on a couple of steps; he wasn't even going to give a foul. I've no idea why he gives a yellow card.'

Iraola added that Gravenberch was his team's standout player before the dismissal and had been performing well. 'Gravenberch was having a very good game, probably his team's standout player, and his dismissal had a huge impact on the match,' Metro reported. The Liverpool manager said the game changed after the red card: 'I think we were the better team until the red card in the first 62 minutes. And they were better than us, obviously, after the red card.'

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher agreed with Iraola's assessment. He described the first challenge on Anderson as 'barely a foul' and called the decision a 'shocking decision' by referee Chris Kavanagh. Carragher said: 'The thing that frustrates me is that he wasn't going to give a yellow card. He only gives it when he thinks Anderson is hurt. That has nothing to do with whether a foul should or should not be a yellow card.'

After Gravenberch's departure, Manchester City dominated. Erling Haaland opened the scoring just 2 minutes and 37 seconds after the red card. Jeremy Doku doubled the lead within six minutes of that, and Rayan Cherki added a third goal with 12 minutes remaining.

Iraola praised his players' efforts despite the setback. 'I think the players deserve credit today, because I think they've given everything,' he said. 'And I also think the supporters have been fantastic today.'

The defeat leaves Liverpool with work to do as Manchester City maintained their perfect record after six games of the Premier League season.

How it is being reported

• Liverpool: Andoni Iraola delivers Ryan Gravenberch red card verdict after Man City defeatDutchman’s red card was the turning point at AnfieldEvening Standard · 11 Oct, 20:28
• 'Barely a foul' - Carra criticises 'shocking' Gravenberch red card decisionRyan Gravenberch's sending off in Liverpool's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City was a "shocking decision" by referee Chris Kavanagh, according to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.Sky Sports Football · 11 Oct, 20:18
• 'Barely a foul' - Carra criticises 'shocking' Gravenberch red card decisionRyan Gravenberch's sending off in Liverpool's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City was a "shocking decision" by referee Chris Kavanagh, according to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.Sky Sports · 11 Oct, 20:06
• Andoni Iraola slams Ryan Gravenberch red card decision and bemoans Man City 'uncertainty'Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola insists Ryan Gravenberch should not have been booked for his first yellow card and had his say on the ongoing Manchester City situationMirror Sport · 11 Oct, 19:55
• 'I didn't like the refereeing' - Iraola unhappy with Gravenberch redAndoni Iraola says he didn't agree with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch's red card in Liverpool's defeat to Manchester City at Anfield.BBC Sport · 11 Oct, 19:46
• Andoni Iraola and Jamie Carragher rage at Chris Kavanagh decision at AnfieldAndoni Iraola was left frustrated with one refereeing decision (Picture: Getty Images) Both Andoni Iraola and Jamie Carragher felt Ryan Gravenberch was harshly treated by referee Chris Kavanagh, who showed the Liverpool midfielder a red card in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. The game…Metro · 11 Oct, 19:18

In this story: Ryan Gravenberch · Andoni Iraola · Jamie Carragher · Chris Kavanagh · Liverpool · Manchester City · Erling Haaland · Anfield

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem