Liverpool Reportedly Complained to PGMOL Over Chris Kavanagh’s Decision Against Man City
Liverpool were reportedly unhappy with referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to send off Ryan Gravenberch during their 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at Anfield.
Gravenberch received two yellow cards, with the dismissal coming in the 62nd minute of a match that was still competitive at that stage. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola strongly disagreed with the decision, particularly the midfielder’s first booking.
Speaking after the match, Iraola argued that Gravenberch’s initial foul did not deserve a yellow card. He suggested the incident was minor and questioned why the referee cautioned the midfielder when there was no immediate danger to Liverpool.
The Liverpool boss also pointed out that his team had plenty of players behind the ball, with the incident occurring around the middle of the pitch.
Liverpool Have Previous Concerns Over Kavanagh
This is not the first time Chris Kavanagh has been involved in a controversial decision during a Liverpool-Manchester City encounter.
During the corresponding fixture at the Etihad Stadium in the 2025/26 season, Liverpool had a goal ruled out after Virgil van Dijk appeared to have scored with a powerful header.
However, the goal was disallowed because Andy Robertson was judged to have interfered with play from an offside position. VAR official Michael Oliver supported the decision, and Liverpool eventually suffered a 3-0 defeat.
The decision reportedly angered Liverpool, who contacted Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb to raise their concerns.
Liverpool believed Robertson had not interfered sufficiently to justify the offside decision. Under the offside law, being in an offside position alone is not an offence; a player must become involved in active play in a way defined by the rules.
Why Kavanagh Is Allowed to Referee Manchester City
Kavanagh’s Manchester birthplace has also attracted attention among supporters, with some questioning whether it could create a conflict of interest when he officiates Manchester City matches.
However, being born in Manchester does not automatically prevent a referee from officiating City games.
Premier League refereeing rules focus on a referee’s club allegiances and potential conflicts of interest, rather than simply where they were born. Kavanagh supports Droylsden FC, a club based in Greater Manchester, so his birthplace does not disqualify him from taking charge of Premier League fixtures involving Manchester City.
The latest controversy surrounding Gravenberch’s dismissal is likely to fuel further debate among Liverpool supporters over the standard of refereeing in crucial matches.
For Liverpool, the sending-off proved a significant moment in a disappointing afternoon, as Manchester City secured a 3-0 victory at Anfield.
