Liverpool Player Ratings After 3-0 Defeat to Man City: Gravenberch's Red Card Sparks Collapse

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Liverpool endured a harsh 3-0 loss at Anfield against Manchester City, with the turning point being Ryan Gravenberch’s second yellow card in the 62nd minute. Up until then, Andoni Iraola's squad had managed to contain the league champions tactically. But after the sending-off, City's ruthless attack saw goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki in just 13 minutes, exposing Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses.

Goalkeeper & Defence

• Alisson Becker (5/10): Barely troubled in the first half but left vulnerable by a disintegrating defense later on. Conceded three goals from four shots on target, unable to stop City's clinical finishes.
• Ronald Araujo (4.5/10): Received an early yellow card that limited his aggression. Showed promise early but was replaced by Frimpong in the 75th minute.
• Jules Jacquet (5/10): Started at central defense and competed well physically before being overwhelmed post-red card. Substituted in the 88th minute.
• Virgil van Dijk (5.5/10): Commanded the backline well initially and disrupted City’s rhythm, but the red card left him overburdened. Earned a late booking out of frustration.
• Milos Kerkez (6.5/10): Impressive defensive work, including a crucial intervention to deny Antoine Semenyo a clear chance. Showed visible frustration with Wirtz’s poor passing decisions.

Midfield

• Ryan Gravenberch (5/10): Liverpool’s standout player for over an hour, driving the team forward with energy and influence reminiscent of Patrick Vieira, according to Jamie Carragher. His second yellow card, though, was a costly lapse that unraveled Liverpool’s efforts.
• Alexis Mac Allister (6/10): Fought hard physically and technically to match City’s midfield. Unlucky with the deflection leading to Haaland’s opener. Fatigued as the team lost its numerical advantage.
• Florian Wirtz (3.5/10): A frustrating display marked by frequent turnovers and ineffective set pieces. His teammates were visibly annoyed. Subbed off shortly after City’s opening goal.
• Víctor Muñoz (4/10): Showed some attacking intent but became a defensive weakness, particularly caught out by Doku’s second goal.

Attack

• Bradley Barcola (5/10): Worked hard tracking back but lacked sharpness in attack and often ignored teammates on counters. Had a brief bright spell early in the second half before fading out.
• Lewis Koumas (6/10): Made his Premier League starting debut with relentless pressing, unsettling key defenders. Tested the goalkeeper with a powerful shot before being substituted.

Substitutes & Manager

• Trey Nyoni (4.5/10): Came on in a tough situation, struggled under City’s dominance after replacing Wirtz.
• Jeremie Frimpong (3/10): Introduced late but looked completely out of his depth, humiliated by Cherki who beat him with dazzling footwork before scoring.
• Rio Ngumoha (5/10): Replaced Koumas but had no impact on the game.
• Joe Gomez & Federico Chiesa (N/A): Entered near the end when the outcome was decided.
• Andoni Iraola (5/10): His plan held firm for an hour, effectively stifling City and creating chances. The red card, however, led to a swift collapse that his team could not recover from.