Liverpool suffered a 3‑0 defeat to Manchester City in a Premier League clash on Sunday, a result that was sealed when midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off after two cautions. The first yellow card, issued in the 47th minute, was widely criticised as overly harsh, while the second, given after a challenge on Jeremy Doku, was deemed justified by former referee Dermot Gallagher and others.
The match, played at Anfield, saw Gravenberch dominate the midfield for the first hour, but his dismissal in the 73rd minute turned the tide in favour of the visitors. The referee, Chris Kavanagh, initially cautioned Gravenberch for what he described as a high boot that clipped Doku’s knee. Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, argued that Kavanagh had misread the tackle, noting that the Dutchman had actually caught the top of Doku’s boot rather than the knee. “It was really harsh,” Gallagher said, adding that the first booking unfairly penalised a legitimate attempt to win the ball.
Former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood echoed Gallagher’s view, stating that the first tackle was an “attempt to win the ball” and that Gravenberch had pulled away from the challenge. Sherwood added that the second caution was warranted because the player had already been warned and the tackle posed a significant threat to a promising attack. “The impact matters more than the severity,” he said.
Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd also agreed that the first yellow was too soft, suggesting it had spoiled a balanced contest. He conceded that the second challenge could be punished, noting that Doku was “rapid and electric” and that Gravenberch had put himself at risk after already being cautioned.
The incident also raised questions about the influence of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Immediately after the second tackle, Haaland approached the referee, a move that some observers felt might have added pressure on Kavanagh’s decision. Gallagher maintained that Kavanagh had already decided to caution Gravenberch, while Bothroyd and Sherwood suggested that Haaland’s swift reaction could have swayed the referee’s judgment.
With the red card, Liverpool will be without Gravenberch for the remainder of the season, and the loss leaves them further from the top of the table. Manchester City, meanwhile, will add three points to their campaign, keeping their challenge for the Premier League title firmly in sight. The incident will likely be reviewed by the league’s disciplinary panel, and any further sanctions could impact Liverpool’s squad depth in the coming weeks.