Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has criticized Reds staff and Trey Nyoni after the controversial red card that saw Ryan Gravenberch sent off against Man City this weekend
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has criticized Liverpool's coaching staff for not preparing Trey Nyoni more quickly when he was introduced following Ryan Gravenberch's controversial sending-off against Manchester City.
Shortly after Liverpool went down to 10 men, Iraola's side went behind to a goal from Erling Haaland. It ended up losing 3-0 and was unable to stop a steady flow of goals late on.
But Carragher felt that Liverpool should have been better prepared when bringing Nyoni on for Florian Wirtz. Between Gravenberch's exit and the substitution, there were four minutes in which Haaland netted to break the deadlock at the Anfield Road End.
"The Liverpool bench has got to do better," Carragher highlighted on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. "Iraola is clearly trying to get instructions onto the pitch.
"It should happen a lot earlier that Nyoni is called back to get ready. If Iraola has lost his head, his coaching staff need to be on his shoulder talking about the plan and how Liverpool will change.
"After a minute and 15 seconds, Nyoni isn't ready. He hasn't got his shirt on. That annoys me. This is elite level. Yes, I understand Iraola's head is frazzled, but this has to be sorted, and Nyoni has to be ready.
Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas of Liverpool
Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas of Liverpool(Image: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
"The bench has to deal with it quicker too. That decision should have been made sooner."
Liverpool faces Brentford next in the Premier League and will have to do without Gravenberch, who had played well until being given his marching orders, for that fixture.
Currently, Dominik Szoboszlai is injured, with no exact timeframe having been placed on when he could return, which could mean Nyoni getting some substantial minutes.
Iraola was furious with Gravenberch getting a second booking for a foul on Jeremy Doku, and Reds legend Steven Gerrard agreed.
"The first yellow card is an embarrassment from the referee," Gerrard said on The Overlap.
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"I was 10 seats down from Howard Webb, and I was looking at him, and I knew what he was thinking — the referee has messed up massively on the first booking.
"The second one is probably a yellow card, stopping the counter-attack. It is probably a mistake from Gravenberch, but he was outstanding. It is the best he has played for some time.
"He proved to me that he is more of an eight than a six. It suits him more to play with Alexis Mac Allister in there. He has played that deeper role well in the past, but he has too much energy to play there. You have to play to his strengths."