Ryan Gravenberch’s sending off in Liverpool’s 3-0 residence defeat to Manchester Metropolis was a “stunning resolution” by referee Chris Kavanagh, in accordance with Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher.
Gravenberch, the standout participant for an hour, was proven pink after receiving a second yellow for a problem on Jeremy Doku with the sport tied at 0-0 in a flashpoint that turned the sport, which had been finely poised, in Metropolis’s favour.
Erling Haaland’s opener got here simply two minutes and 37 seconds after Gravenberch was dismissed, and inside six minutes Doku had doubled Metropolis’s benefit earlier than Rayan Cherki added a 3rd with 12 minutes to play.
Gravenberch had picked up his first warning shortly after the restart for a foul on Metropolis midfielder Elliot Anderson, which Sky Sports activities pundit Carragher described as a “nothing problem”.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool’s match towards Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League.
“It is such a poor resolution by the referee,” Carragher mentioned after the sport. “The factor that frustrates me is that he wasn’t going to provide a yellow card. He solely provides it when he thinks Anderson is damage.
“That has nothing to do with whether or not a foul ought to or shouldn’t be a yellow card.”
He added: “It is barely a foul. It is a stunning resolution.”
“It feels actually harsh while you consider the 2 challenges,” Carragher mentioned of Gravenberch’s sending off on co-commentary.
“The primary one was not a yellow card. It was so harsh for a nothing problem on Anderson, and the referee was far too fast to get the yellow card out.”
Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville, additionally on co-commentary, mentioned Gravenberch’s second yellow was “very gentle”, earlier than including: “The one factor I might say is, figuring out you are on a yellow and incorrect aspect of Doku, does he have to make the problem?
“He is given the referee a dilemma.”
‘Liverpool seemed like that they had 4 despatched off’
Manchester Metropolis had an xG of 0.16 earlier than Gravenberch’s sending off however dominated as soon as Liverpool have been all the way down to 10 males.
Sky Sports activities pundit Roy Keane felt Gravenberch’s dissmissal turned the match in Metropolis’s favour however criticised Liverpool’s response to the pink card.
“I do not see how he can get a yellow card for that,” Keane mentioned of Gravenberch’s first reserving. “The entire recreation then modifications.
“Liverpool struggled with the physicality. There have been areas all over the place. Liverpool seemed like that they had 4 males despatched off. Metropolis have been controlling it. For the primary hour it was a good recreation.”
Daniel Sturridge was in full settlement and mentioned the choice to award Gravenberch’s first yellow card was “a joke”.
“The sport modified on the pink card. We now have to be truthful about that,” Sturridge mentioned on Sky Sports activities. “Metropolis delivered after the pink card modified the sport. Previous to that, it was very even.”
Sky Sports activities’ Micah Richards was equally puzzled concerning the first reserving the Liverpool midfielder obtained. “That’s gentle. How is {that a} yellow card? I do not perceive,” mentioned Richards.