Ryan Gravenberch’s sending off in Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City was a “shocking decision” by referee Chris Kavanagh, according to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
Gravenberch, man of the hour, was shown red after picking up a second yellow for a challenge on Jeremy Doku with the game tied at 0-0 in a flashpoint that turned the game, which was well-prepared, in City’s favour.
Erling Haaland’s opener came just two minutes and 37 seconds after Gravenberch had been sent off and within six minutes Doku had doubled City’s advantage before Ryan Cherki added a third with 12 minutes to play.
Gravenberch received his first caution shortly after the restart for a foul on City midfielder Elliot Anderson, who Sky Sports pundit Carragher described it as a “nothing challenge”.
“It’s such a poor decision from the referee,” Carragher said after the game. “The thing that frustrates me is that he wouldn’t give a yellow card. He only gives it when he thinks Anderson is injured.
“This has nothing to do with whether or not a foul deserves a yellow card.”
He added: “It’s barely a foul. It’s a shocking decision.”
“It feels very tough when you think about the two challenges,” Carragher said of Gravenberch’s sending off in the joint commentary.
“The first one was not a yellow card. It was too harsh for a challenge for nothing against Anderson, and the referee was too quick to show off the yellow card.”
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, also on commentary, said Gravenberch’s second yellow was “too mild”, before adding: “The only thing I would say is, knowing you’re on the yellow and wrong side of Doc, should he do the challenge?
“He has given the referee a dilemma.”
“Liverpool looked like they had four sent off”
Manchester City had an xG of 0.16 before Gravenberch was sent off, but dominated as Liverpool were down to 10 men.
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane felt Gravenberch’s dismissal swung the game in City’s favour, but criticized Liverpool’s response to the red card.
“I don’t see how he can get a yellow card for that,” Keane said of Gravenberch’s first booking. “The whole game then changes.
“Liverpool struggled with the physicality. There were spaces everywhere. Liverpool looked like they had four players sent off. City were controlling it. For the first hour it was a tight game.”
Daniel Sturridge fully agreed and said the decision to give Gravenberch his first yellow card was “a joke”.
“The game changed with the red card. We have to be honest about that,” Sturridge said Sky Sports. “City gave after the red card changed the game. Before that, it was very even.”
Sky Sports’ Micah Richards was equally confused about the Liverpool midfielder’s first booking. “That’s soft. How is it a yellow card? I don’t understand,” said Richards.
