Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has launched a strong criticism of referee Chris Kavanagh after Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal played a major role in the Reds’ 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield.
The match had been closely contested before Gravenberch received a second yellow card for a challenge on Jérémy Doku. The Dutch midfielder had earlier been booked for a challenge involving Elliot Anderson, a decision Iraola believes was unnecessarily harsh.
Manchester City capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Erling Haaland opening the scoring just three minutes after Gravenberch was sent off. Doku and Rayan Cherki then added further goals to complete a convincing victory for the visitors.
Iraola argued that Liverpool had been the stronger side before the dismissal, insisting the red card fundamentally changed the contest and made it difficult for his team to recover.
“I think the analysis is quite clear, no?” Iraola said. “I think we played two different games: one until the red card, and one from the red card until the end. I think we were the better team until the red card in the first 62 minutes, I think. And they were better than us, obviously, after the red card. And they scored the goals.
“But I think the players deserve credit today, because I think they’ve given everything. They’ve given everything. And I think also supporters have been fantastic today, fantastic. Before, during, after. And I think the atmosphere and the feeling we had until that moment, also it was, I think, our best moment, probably, when we were having the chances and are positive. That obviously, when you lose after 3-0, it’s not a lot. But I think it was important.”
The Liverpool boss was particularly unhappy with Gravenberch’s first booking, describing the incident as insufficient to warrant a yellow card. He also questioned Kavanagh’s decision-making and warned that inconsistent punishment for protests could create problems throughout the season.
“I think the first foul of Ryan is never a yellow card, never. These kinds of games, just a stomp on the big toe, or something minor. He doesn’t even call the foul straight away. He lets bit go, I think Elliot Anderson does a couple of steps. He decides to go down. I don’t know why after he shows the yellow card, because it’s not a situation where it leaves advantage.
“We had nine players behind the ball. It’s like they had a lot of, you know, it was in the middle of the pitch, no danger there. And then you put, as a referee, yourself in trouble, and also you put us in trouble. Also at the beginning of the game, yellow card of Ronald [Araújo], I know he complains, he does this. But in these kinds of games, if you are going to start after a handball of [Marc] Guéhi, the punishment is for Ronald complaining and this.
“You put it straight away at the beginning of the game, the right-back with a yellow card. I think you are in the textbooks, yes, perfect. He complains, you can show a yellow card, but then I will be very careful all the season. Every time someone complains, it has to be a yellow card.”
The defeat came amid renewed scrutiny of Manchester City, with the fixture marking their first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the verdict, with potential sanctions looming if their appeal fails.
Asked whether the financial case affected his view of the result, Iraola insisted Liverpool had to accept the outcome while acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the wider situation.
“We lost the game, but, you know, that’s football. We competed, we can analyse. I said before the game, the uncertainty is not good for anyone. But it is what it is, we cannot change it. We have to wait.”
For Liverpool, the focus will now turn to recovering from a damaging defeat. However, Iraola’s comments have placed Kavanagh’s officiating under the spotlight, with Gravenberch’s dismissal remaining a major talking point after City took full advantage to secure all three points.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
