Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have both criticised the refereeing decisions that led to Ryan Gravenberch being sent off during Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
What happened?
Gravenberch was handed a starting place for Liverpool after Dominik Szoboszlai was ruled out through injury.
The Dutch midfielder started brightly, showing his quality on the ball and producing an impressive piece of skill that saw him nutmeg Enzo Fernández during the first half.
However, his afternoon took a dramatic turn after the break.
Gravenberch received his first yellow card for a challenge on Elliot Anderson. Around 15 minutes later, he brought down Jeremy Doku, prompting referee Chris Kavanagh to show him a second yellow card.
The dismissal left Liverpool with 10 players and sparked a major debate over whether the referee had been too harsh.
Neville and Carragher disagree with the decision
Speaking during Sky Sports’ match coverage, both Neville and Carragher expressed their belief that Gravenberch had been treated unfairly.
Carragher felt the first challenge did not warrant a yellow card, arguing that the referee had been too quick to reach for his pocket.
Neville agreed, describing the decision as soft.
Their comments reflected the frustration among Liverpool supporters, many of whom believed the midfielder should have remained on the pitch.
How the red card affected Liverpool
Liverpool had been competing in an entertaining contest before Gravenberch’s dismissal changed the momentum of the game.
After Liverpool were reduced to 10 men, Manchester City took advantage of their numerical superiority. Erling Haaland and Doku scored within minutes of the sending-off, putting the visitors in control.
Rayan Cherki subsequently added another goal, sealing a 3–0 victory for Manchester City.
The result was particularly frustrating for Liverpool because the match had been more competitive before the dismissal.
What happens next?
Gravenberch’s dismissal means Liverpool will have to prepare for their next fixtures without him if he serves the expected suspension.
The controversy has also renewed discussions about refereeing consistency and the threshold for issuing yellow cards in high-profile Premier League matches.
For Liverpool, the immediate priority will be recovering from the defeat and finding a way to compete without one of their midfield options.
The big question for Liverpool fans: Was Ryan Gravenberch’s second yellow card justified, or did the referee make a costly mistake?
