Iraola says Gravenberch’s first booking was wrong as Liverpool lose 3‑0

“The first foul of Ryan is never a yellow card,” Andoni Iraola said after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal came in the 62nd minute, with the game still goalless, and leaves him suspended for Liverpool’s next league match away to Brentford.

Gravenberch was sent off after receiving a second yellow. Iraola argued that the first booking was too harsh, describing the incident as minor and saying referee had not immediately called a foul. He also pointed to City’s Elliot Anderson taking a couple of steps before going down, and said the incident happened in the middle of the pitch with Liverpool players behind the ball.

The dismissal split the match into two parts in Iraola’s assessment. He said Liverpool had been the better side during the first 62 minutes and were in their best spell, creating chances and playing positively. After the red card, he said, City were the better team.

Manchester City scored all three goals in the second half: Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki found the net. The first came soon after Gravenberch’s dismissal, before Liverpool could make a substitution, turning a level contest into a test of playing with ten men.

Iraola praised his players for competing with intensity and committing to their duels, and credited the Anfield crowd for backing the team before, during and after the sending-off. His verdict was that the support helped Liverpool perform well while the teams were still level in numbers, but could not prevent City from taking control after the dismissal.

The result leaves Liverpool ninth with nine points from six matches, while Manchester City sit top on 18. Gravenberch’s suspension now carries into Saturday’s trip to Brentford, removing a midfielder Iraola praised for carrying the ball and defending well against City. Liverpool must respond after a defeat in which the red card changed the contest—and left them without Gravenberch for their next league test.