Rooney Slams Gravenberch for 'Naive and Stupid' Red Card in Liverpool's Defeat

Wayne Rooney has criticised Ryan Gravenberch for getting sent off in Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield, saying the Dutchman's second yellow card was "naive and stupid."

Speaking on Match of the Day, the former England captain said Gravenberch put himself at risk after he had already been booked. 

"When you've been booked and you're on a yellow card then you leave yourself in a position where you can get a second yellow card and sent off," Rooney said. "It's a bit naive and stupid for that second yellow card."

Gravenberch had been one of Liverpool's best players for the first hour. He was shown a second yellow in the 62nd minute for clumsily bringing down Jeremy Doku. Referee Chris Kavanagh waved away the home side's protests, and the red card left Liverpool exposed.

Rooney did have some sympathy over the first booking, for a foul on Elliot Anderson soon after half-time. He called it "harsh." 

"He's obviously gone for the ball, it's a poor touch by Elliot Anderson, and then he just nicks it and Gravenberch catches him on the top of his foot and then he goes down," he said. "So it's probably not a yellow card."

City punished the extra man quickly. Erling Haaland put them ahead just three minutes after Gravenberch went off. Substitute Doku then doubled the lead, getting past Victor Munoz and curling a fine shot into the corner of Alisson's goal. Rayan Cherki sealed the win with a brilliant solo goal in the 78th minute.

It was City's first game since being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, and the win keeps their perfect start going. They are top of the table, three points clear of Arsenal.

Next, City host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at the Etihad. They then go for a seventh league win in seven games against Ipswich next Saturday.

Liverpool are ninth after a bitterly disappointing weekend. They must regroup for a European game against LASK before travelling to Brentford in the Premier League.