Wayne Rooney has criticised Ryan Gravenberch for a "stupid" second yellow card during Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, which reduced the Reds to 10 men. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki all scored to secure the win for City.
Gravenberch's costly second booking
Liverpool were missing Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Conor Bradley and Giovani Leoni. The Reds held their own in the first half, but the match turned with around 30 minutes remaining when Gravenberch was sent off.
The midfielder had already been booked for a soft foul on Elliot Anderson early in the second half, appearing to step on the Englishman's foot in the centre-circle. His second yellow came 62 minutes in when he took the man and not the ball as Doku burst forward on the counter-attack.
Rooney and pundits react
Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day, Rooney said: "Well, I think the first yellow card is harsh. I think it's, he's obviously gone for the ball, it's a poor touch by Elliot Anderson, and then he just nicks him, catches him on the top of his foot and he goes down, so it's probably not a yellow card. But for me, the second one is. When you've been booked and you're on a yellow card, you leave yourself in a position where you can get a second yellow card sent off, so it's a bit naïve and stupid for that second yellow card."
Host Kelly Cates added: "We should say as well, this is not about the force of the challenge, this is about stopping an attack for the opponent, and that's why it's given as a yellow card." Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, also a pundit, explained: "Yeah, that's for sure, because I think Gravenberch thought he could get first to the ball, but Doku is so sharp, and then he came in first and then made a little foul, but again, he stops a good, promising attack, and that's why he got a yellow card."
Hostile atmosphere at Anfield
Liverpool fans made it difficult for City, with displays before kick-off referencing the club's ongoing financial charges saga. City were found guilty of 114 infractions of the Premier League's rules during the international break, a case that has dragged on since 2023. The club have lodged an appeal.
Unofficial flags lined the streets featuring AI images of City players in prison jumpsuits with the words "guilty" and "114 charges," alongside Oasis-themed banners and t-shirts reading "cheats." Inside the ground, jeers and boos were directed toward Enzo Maresca and his men, with chants of "You cheating b******s, you know what you are," and "You haven't won a trophy since 1976."
Banners included "All of your stars are fading away," "And after all, you really won f*** all," and "A generation of supporters cheated." City supporters in the away end responded with a sea of inflatable bananas, reviving a tradition from Maine Road in the 1980s.
Liverpool sit ninth in the Premier League standings after the loss. They face LASK in Europe on Wednesday, October 14, before returning to league action away to Brentford on Saturday, October 17.
