🚨 ANDONI IRAOLA FURIOUS OVER RYAN GRAVENBERCH’S RED CARD AFTER LIVERPOOL’S DEFEAT TO MAN CITY
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has strongly criticised referee Chris Kavanagh following Ryan Gravenberch’s controversial dismissal during Liverpool’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at Anfield.
The Reds were reduced to ten men in the 62nd minute after Gravenberch received his second yellow card of the match. The decision proved costly, as Manchester City took advantage of their numerical superiority to score three goals and secure a convincing victory.
Iraola was particularly unhappy with the midfielder’s first booking, which he believed was undeserved and played a major role in changing the direction of the game.
Iraola Questions Gravenberch’s First Yellow Card
Speaking after the match, Iraola insisted that Gravenberch’s initial offence did not warrant a yellow card.
The Liverpool boss explained that referee Kavanagh initially allowed play to continue following the midfielder’s challenge on Elliott Anderson. However, after Anderson took a few more steps before going to ground, the referee subsequently decided to issue a booking.
Iraola questioned why the official chose to caution Gravenberch, arguing that the incident was relatively minor and occurred in a harmless area of the pitch.
He also pointed out that Liverpool had several players positioned behind the ball, meaning the challenge did not stop a dangerous attacking opportunity.
In Iraola’s view, the decision put both the referee and Liverpool in a difficult position, particularly because Gravenberch was subsequently dismissed after receiving another yellow card.
Iraola Questions the Referee’s Consistency
The Liverpool manager also expressed frustration over an earlier booking given to Ronald Araujo for protesting against a decision.
Araujo had signalled for the referee to punish Manchester City defender Marc Guehi following an alleged deliberate handball.
Although Iraola acknowledged that players can be cautioned for dissent, he questioned whether the referee’s strict approach would be applied consistently throughout the season.
The Spaniard argued that if every player who complained about a decision was going to receive a yellow card, officials would need to maintain that standard in every match.
His comments reflected his broader dissatisfaction with the way the game was officiated.
Liverpool’s Performance Changed After the Red Card
Iraola believed Liverpool had performed better than Manchester City before Gravenberch’s dismissal, describing the match as two completely different contests.
According to the Liverpool boss, his team had shown positive signs during the opening 62 minutes and created opportunities to take control of the game.
However, everything changed after the midfielder was sent off, allowing Manchester City to exploit the extra space and dominate proceedings.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring shortly after the dismissal, before Jeremy Doku added another goal. Rayan Cherki later completed the scoring, handing Manchester City a commanding 3-0 victory.
Despite the disappointing result, Iraola praised his players for their effort and determination, insisting they deserved credit for their performance before the sending-off.
He also thanked Liverpool supporters for their incredible backing throughout the match, highlighting the atmosphere at Anfield before, during and after the game.
Although the defeat left little room for positives, Iraola maintained that his players had shown encouraging signs before the controversial decision changed the contest.
The Liverpool manager’s criticism has added to the debate surrounding Gravenberch’s dismissal, with questions being raised about whether the midfielder’s first booking was justified and whether the referee’s decision ultimately influenced the outcome of the match.
