LIVERPOOL, England -- Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has criticised referee Chris Kavanagh's decision to show Ryan Gravenberch a red card in Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
It had largely been an even contest at Anfield before Gravenberch was dismissed for a second yellow card offence on Jérémy Doku, having earlier been penalised for a fairly innocuous challenge on Elliot Anderson. Just three minutes after the Dutchman was sent off, City were ahead through Erling Haaland before goals from Doku and Rayan Cherki sealed the victory for the visitors.
"I think the analysis is quite clear, no?" 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 we were the better team until the red card in the first 62 minutes, I think. And they were better than us, obviously, after the red card. And they scored the goals.
"But I think the players deserve credit today, because I think they've given everything. They've given everything. And I think also supporters have been fantastic today, fantastic. Before, during, after. And I think the atmosphere and the feeling we had until that moment, also it was, I think, our best moment, probably, when we were having the chances and are positive. That obviously, when you lose after 3-0, it's not a lot. But I think it was important."
Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for a second bookable offence. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images The Liverpool boss added: "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 lets bit go, I think Elliot Anderson does a couple of steps. He decides to go down. I don't know why after he shows the yellow card, because it's not a situation where it leaves advantage.
"We had nine players behind the ball. It's like they had a lot of, you know, it was in the middle of the pitch, no danger there. And then you put, as a referee, yourself in trouble, and also you put us in trouble. Also at the beginning of the game, yellow card of Ronald [Araújo], I know he complains, he does this. But in these kinds of games, if you are going to start after a handball of [Marc] Guéhi, the punishment is for Ronald complaining and this.
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