Ryan Gravenberch Red Card Leaves Liverpool Short After Man City Defeat

Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal has left Liverpool with an immediate selection problem after Manchester City swept to a 3-0 win at Anfield, with the midfielder sent off in the 62nd minute for a second booking.

The Dutchman had been Liverpool’s brightest player for much of the contest, but his foul on Jeremy Doku changed the match. Referee Chris Kavanagh rejected Liverpool’s appeals before City made their extra man count.

1. Gravenberch was booked shortly after the interval following a challenge on Elliot Anderson.
2. His second caution arrived 62 minutes in when he brought down Doku.
3. Erling Haaland put City ahead three minutes after the red card.
4. Doku, introduced from the bench, beat Victor Munoz before bending in City’s second.
5. Rayan Cherki completed the 3-0 result with an individual goal in the 78th minute.

Wayne Rooney criticised Gravenberch’s second challenge, saying a player already on a yellow card cannot give the referee a reason to produce another. He did, however, feel the first booking was severe, arguing that Gravenberch had attempted to win the ball and only caught the top of Anderson’s foot after a poor touch.

The defeat leaves Liverpool ninth, while City remain top of the Premier League with a three-point gap over Arsenal and six wins from six. It was City’s first match since the club was found guilty of Premier League financial-rule breaches.

What happens next

• Manchester City host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League before facing Ipswich in the league next Saturday.
• Liverpool must reset for their European match against LASK, then travel to Brentford in Premier League action.
• Gravenberch’s red card puts the focus on Liverpool’s midfield options for the fixtures ahead.