Ref Watch: Why Ryan Gravenberch's first yellow card was harsh but Liverpool midfielder deserved eventual red against Man City

Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says Ryan Gravenberch was unlucky to receive his first yellow card against Manchester City, but believes his second booking was justified.

Gravenberch was sent off with the game goalless after bringing down Jeremy Doku, in a flashpoint that shifted the momentum in City's favour. The Liverpool midfielder had been one of the standout performers for an hour before his dismissal.

Speaking on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch, Gallagher said referee Chris Kavanagh was harsh in his initial decision, believing the official mistakenly thought Gravenberch had caught Doku's knee rather than the top of his boot.

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"It is really harsh [first yellow card]," Gallagher said.

"I think the problem for Chris [Kavanagh], in his view, I think he thinks that he clips his knee.

"He doesn't if you look again. He thinks he has clipped his knee, so he thinks it's a high boot and a yellow card.

"He catches the top of his boot. He is very unlucky."

Former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood agreed that the first caution was unwarranted, arguing Gravenberch had made an attempt to win the ball and pulled out of the challenge.

"I don't think that tackle should be a yellow card. It is an attempt to win the ball," Sherwood said.

"He pulls out of any kind of challenge. It is not a yellow card. You want your team to be aggressive and on the front foot."

However, Gallagher was adamant that Gravenberch's second booking was correct, pointing to the impact of the challenge rather than its severity.

"Without a doubt [yellow]. It is not about the severity of the tackle, it's about the impact. I don't think he can win that ball," he said.

"He didn't have to make the tackle. He is already on a yellow, he knows that and the referee knows that.

"The referee will think it has broken a promising attack. The learning curve of the referee is don't put yourself in the position to be under pressure.

"The first yellow puts Gravenberch and himself [the referee] under pressure."

Sherwood also accepted that the Liverpool midfielder had left himself vulnerable by attempting to stop Doku, who was able to move the ball away from the challenge.

On the second yellow, Sherwood added: "He is so quick and toes it away. It is a genuine attempt to play the ball but he puts himself on offer having already been on a yellow."

Former Premier League forward Jay Bothroyd shared the view that the first booking was soft, suggesting it ultimately spoiled a finely poised contest, but agreed that the second challenge could be punished.

"It is soft [first yellow]. That shouldn't even be a question of a yellow card, it is not for me. It ends up spoiling the game," Bothroyd said.

"The second yellow, I think it is [a booking]. He could've been on the pitch still.

"In that situation, we are talking about Doku. He is rapid and electric.

"Gravenberch thinks he can get there and then he can't. It is a promising attack. That is why he has been given the yellow.

"In isolation, I don't know if it's a yellow challenge but because it was a promising opportunity to break, that is why it has been given."

Did Haaland add pressure on Gravenberch decision?

Erling Haaland immediately approached referee Chris Kavanagh after Gravenberch's challenge on Jeremy Doku, which resulted in the Liverpool midfielder receiving his second yellow card.

The incident raised questions over whether the Manchester City striker's reaction put additional pressure on the referee, although former Premier League referee Gallagher believes Kavanagh had already made up his mind.

"He has made up his mind by that point. He wasn't throwing yellow cards around, the first one was for a technical incident," Gallagher said.

"The first yellow for a foul came in the 47th minute. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong one [Gravenberch's first]."

Former Premier League forward Jay Bothroyd suggested Haaland's immediate reaction was an attempt to influence the decision.

"In this situation, Haaland runs over straight away. He is clearly saying he needs to be sent off," Bothroyd said.

"When that happens, isn't that the same as doing that [the card gesture]."

Tim Sherwood also highlighted how quickly Haaland approached Kavanagh after the challenge, questioning whether the striker's intervention could have influenced the referee.

"As soon as he made that challenge, Haaland is sharp enough to the referee. He goes straight up to him and is almost saying, do the right thing," Sherwood said.

"Does that add pressure?".

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Ref Watch: Why Ryan Gravenberch's first yellow card was harsh but Liverpool midfielder deserved eventual red against Man City