Liverpool: How many games will Ryan Gravenberch miss after ‘joke’ Man City red card?

Red card: Ryan GravenberchGettyTashan Deniran-Alleyne1 minute ago COMMENTSRyan Gravenberch must serve a suspension after being sent-off in Liverpool’s Premier League defeat to Manchester City.

In the first meeting between Liverpool and Man City not to feature either Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola in the dugout since 2015, Gravenberch’s red card was the turning point in the game.

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The midfielder was given his marching orders just after the hour mark for two bookable offences at Anfield, with the match goalless and finely poised.

Referee Chris Kavanagh brandished the first yellow card to Gravenberch early in the second half for a foul on Man City’s Elliot Anderson, a decision Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola strongly disagreed with.

Furthermore, Sky Sports pundits Micah Richards and Roy Keane agreed that the first yellow card was harsh, while ex-Liverpool and Man City striker Daniel Sturridge did not mince his words.

“It’s never been a yellow,” he said. The first one is a joke.”

Dismissed: Ryan GravenberchGettyWalking the disciplinary tight-rope, Gravenberch then saw red in the 62nd minute after fouling Jeremy Doku and eventually made his way down the tunnel after attempting to protest his innocence.

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To make matters worse for the Dutchman, Erling Haaland scored two-and-a-half minutes after his dismissal as he had to watch the remainder of the game from the Liverpool dressing room.

Doku and Rayan Cherki completed a miserable afternoon for the Reds, who now trail the Premier League leaders by nine points at this early stage of the season.

For Gravenberch, his added punishment will be to serve a ban for the red card.

Due to Gravenberch being sent-off for two bookable offences, he will have to serve a one-match suspension. Had he been shown a straight red card for violent conduct, a three-match ban would have been the punishment.

With Liverpool’s next game coming in the Champions League against LASK on Wednesday evening, the 24-year-old CAN feature in Austria as this suspension only applies to domestic competitions.

Therefore, Gravenberch will be unavailable for selection when the Reds travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face unbeaten Brentford on October 17, but will be back for Brighton’s visit to Anfield a week later.

Gravenberch’s absence comes at a bad time for Liverpool as Dominik Szoboszlai missed the Man City game with a hamstring injury and it remains to be seen when he can return to action.