Andoni Iraola and Jamie Carragher rage at Chris Kavanagh decision at Anfield

Both Andoni Iraola and Jamie Carragher felt Ryan Gravenberch was harshly treated by referee Chris Kavanagh, who showed the Liverpool midfielder a red card in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

The game was goalless and the Reds in the ascendancy at Anfield when the Dutchman was shown a second yellow card on 62 minutes.

Gravenberch was having a very good game, probably his team’s standout player, and his dismissal had a huge impact on the match.

Just three minutes after he departed, Erling Haaland put the visitors ahead and by the 78th minute Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki had also netted.

Despite the controversy surrounding Manchester City, they left Anfield with a resounding victory and kept up their perfect start to the Premier League season after six games.

Liverpool manager Iraola was disappointed with the first booking Gravenberch received, which was for a foul on Elliot Anderson, which he felt was not a booking.

‘The first one is not a yellow,’ Iraola told Sky Sports. ‘Anderson carries on a couple of steps; he wasn’t even going to give a foul. I’ve no idea why he gives a yellow card. We have like nine players behind the ball.

‘It’s already difficult to press them when it’s 11 v 11, but with one less, it becomes a different game and then we concede straight away before making a substitution. You have to play differently when you’re 1-0 down.’

On commentary, Carragher agreed, saying: ‘It feels really harsh when you think of the two challenges.

‘The first challenge was not a card and the referee was far too quick to get the card out.’

The Reds legend added after the game: ‘It’s such a poor decision by the referee and the thing that frustrates me is that he wasn’t going to give a yellow card. He thinks Anderson’s hurt, as soon as he thinks Anderson’s got a bad injury, he gives him a yellow card. It’s barely a foul, it’s a shocking decision.’

Iraola had praise for Gravenberch and the rest of his players, despite the faltering end to the game as they fell to defeat.

‘He [Gravenberch] played really well today. He was carrying the ball very well and defending very well,’ said the manager.

‘I feel very proud of the players today. It was not easy. They have been at the level in terms of intensity and winning duels.

‘The supporters today have been top-level. Exemplary from the beginning when we arrive. The red card was in our best moment. Even after, they valued the effort of the players.’

The opinion on the first Gravenberch yellow card was not solely held by those with a Liverpool bias as former Manchester City defender Micah Richards agreed.

‘We talk about the yellow card. That is soft! How is that a yellow card? I don’t understand,’ said the former full-back.

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