Iraola questions Gravenberch booking after Liverpool lose to Man City

Andoni Iraola questioned Ryan Gravenberch’s first yellow card after Liverpool’s 3–0 defeat by Manchester City, arguing that the midfielder’s dismissal changed the match.

The Liverpool manager defended his players’ performance before they went down to ten men and criticised the refereeing at Anfield.

“The first yellow card was nothing,” Iraola said in his post-match reaction reported by NBC Sports.

Gravenberch dismissal precedes City breakthrough

Gravenberch was booked in the 47th minute and received his second yellow for a challenge on Jérémy Doku in the 62nd, with the match still goalless.

Erling Haaland scored three minutes later, before Doku doubled City’s advantage in the 68th minute. Rayan Cherki added the third ten minutes after that.

Liverpool finished with six shots on target to City’s four, but Gianluigi Donnarumma saved all six as the visitors maintained their perfect league start.

Iraola felt Liverpool had been competing well and growing more dangerous before the dismissal, but could not sustain that level with ten players.

Liverpool wait on injured players

Liverpool had named Lewis Koumas up front in their starting XI against City, with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo unavailable.

Asked whether Isak, Gakpo or Dominik Szoboszlai could return for the midweek Champions League game, Iraola said the short turnaround would make it difficult and gave no firm return date.

The defeat was Liverpool’s first in the league this season. They remain on nine points from six matches, while City have taken the maximum 18.