Manchester City win 3-0 at Anfield after Gravenberch's red card
Ryan Gravenberch's second yellow card in the 62nd minute was followed by three Manchester City goals in 13 minutes at Anfield, and a refereeing debate that has run since.
Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on 11 October 2026, per ESPN, after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute. City's three goals came between the 65th and 78th minutes, and ESPN reports that Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said the game was even until the red card.
How the match turned
The first half finished 0-0, per Pacy's match stats, and the sequence that decided the match came after the break:
- 47th minute: Gravenberch is booked for a foul on Elliot Anderson, per Sports Mole.
- 56th minute: Jeremy Doku replaces Iliman Ndiaye for City.
- 58th minute: Nico O'Reilly is booked for City.
- 62nd minute: Gravenberch's second yellow card, for a challenge on Doku, sends him off, per Sports Mole.
- 65th minute: Erling Haaland scores with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box.
- 68th minute: Doku scores, with Anderson credited with the assist.
- 78th minute: Rayan Cherki scores from very close range, assisted by a Josko Gvardiol header.
Sky Sports reports that Haaland's goal came 2 minutes 37 seconds after the dismissal.
The referee debate
Sky Sports reports that Chris Kavanagh was the referee, and that Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Roy Keane all criticised the decisions. Carragher called the decision shocking and said the first challenge was barely a foul. Gary Neville called the second yellow very soft, and Roy Keane said Liverpool looked as if they had four men sent off.
Sky Sports Ref Watch took a more measured line. It judged the first yellow card harsh, but said Gravenberch deserved the eventual red.
Iraola criticised the referee's handling of the first foul, which he felt was not a foul at all, per Sports Mole. ESPN reports that he said Liverpool played two different games, one up to the red card and one after it. Sports Mole also reports Iraola saying his side could not be as aggressive once a man down, and had to wait and defend lower.
Virgil van Dijk told beIN Sports that the red card changed the game, leaving Liverpool with ten men, and that City scored soon after.
What the numbers say
Before the red card, the chances favoured Liverpool. Sports Mole reports they had 12 shots, four on target, and 0.79 expected goals, against City's four shots, one on target, and 0.17 expected goals.
Over the full match the picture changed: City had most of the ball, but Liverpool still finished with more shots on target, per Pacy's match stats.
| Pacy match stat | Liverpool | Manchester City |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 35.4% | 64.6% |
| Shots | 13 | 15 |
| Shots on goal | 6 | 4 |
| Saves | 1 | 6 |
| Accurate passes | 238 of 296 | 489 of 551 |
| Fouls | 19 | 14 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red cards | 1 | 0 |
| Corner kicks | 5 | 6 |
| Interceptions | 12 | 4 |
City's goalkeeper made six saves to Alisson Becker's one. Pacy's match stats list Alexis Mac Allister with four shots for Liverpool and Cherki with five for City, while Marc Guehi completed 71 accurate passes for City and van Dijk 43 for Liverpool.
Where it leaves the table
Pacy's standings have Manchester City top after six games, with 18 points from six wins and a goal difference of +11. Arsenal are second on 15 points and Brighton & Hove Albion third on 13.
Liverpool are ninth on 9 points from six games, with two wins, three draws and one defeat. Sports Mole reports they sit one point behind fourth-placed Brentford and nine points behind City. Counting this one, City have now beaten Liverpool four times in a row: Pacy's head-to-head data holds the three wins before it, the most recent 4-0 on 4 April 2026.