Iraola insists Gravenberch's first yellow was never a foul as Liverpool fall 3-0 to City

Andoni Iraola insisted Ryan Gravenberch was wrongly sent off and said the red card fundamentally decided Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield.

Gravenberch received his first booking for a foul on Elliot Anderson before being dismissed for a pull-back on Jeremy Doku, still goalless at the time. Erling Haaland, Doku and Rayan Cherki then scored to complete a comfortable City victory.

“I think the analysis is quite clear,” Iraola said. “I think we played two different games: one until the red card, and one from the red card until the end. I think the first foul of Ryan is never a yellow card, never. These kinds of games, just a stomp on the big toe, or something minor. He doesn’t even call the foul straight away. He leaves it — I think Andersen does a couple of steps then decides to go down.”

The Liverpool manager was keen to credit his players despite the scoreline. “I think the players deserve credit today, because I think they’ve given everything. And I also think the supporters have been fantastic — before, during, after. I think the atmosphere and the feeling we had until that moment was probably our best moment.”

The match was City’s first since they were found guilty of Premier League charges, and Iraola returned to a theme he had raised before kick-off — that the unresolved situation creates a cloud of uncertainty over results. “We lost the game, but that’s football. I said before the game, the uncertainty is not good for anyone. But it is what it is, we cannot change it. We have to wait.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk echoed the cautious tone on the off-field matter. “The only thing I can say is that I have really enjoyed the rivalry — but that is on the pitch. What has happened off the pitch is a totally different story. Because it’s still ongoing, it’s not a good idea for me to comment. When it’s properly settled I will definitely share my comments, but for now let’s wait and see.”

Van Dijk also acknowledged the quality of the atmosphere before the red card changed the contest. “I think the atmosphere is always good here. For other players maybe it was different, but for me I was ready to compete and I think we showed that, especially in the first half.”