Freddie Ljungberg claims one Liverpool player had his best game in years against Man City, ‘he was phenomenal’
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Liverpool ultimately lost badly against Manchester City on Sunday, with the 3-0 scoreline a really tough one to take.The result was damaging enough in itself, but coupled with the ongoing injury issues to Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, Andoni Iraola is already facing something of a mini-crisis.On top of everything, Ryan Gravenberch will now miss next weekend’s Premier League clash against Brentford after picking up an extremely soft, game-changing red card against City. Now, one of Vieira’s former Gunners teammates, Freddie Ljungberg, has also praised the Dutchman, claiming that it might have been his best performance for a year or more.FULL TIME Give us your INSTANT REACTION as Liverpool lose 3-0 to Man City 😡 Ryan Gravenberch had his best game in years vs CityGravenberch’s suspension will likely mean a chance for Trey Nyoni against Brentford on Saturday, something Liverpool fans have been dying to see since the start of the season.However, with the former Ajax man in this kind of form, he is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
He showed that as Liverpool romped to the title in 2024/25, winning the Young Player of the Year award, and according to Ljungberg, Sunday might have been his best display since then.“I think it’s [the red card]very harsh, and I think Gravenberch, not just for Liverpool, I thought he was the best player on the pitch,” the Swede told Viaplay after the game at Anfield.“I thought he was phenomenal, maybe the best he’s been for a year or two. So, I felt really, really sorry for him.”READ MORE: Gary Neville calls Bradley Barcola out for what he did during Liverpool 0-3 Man City, ‘cannot continue’On the red card itself, all three of Ljungberg, Peter Schmeichel and Jaap Stam were in agreement that it was completely unnecessary from referee Chris Kavanagh.“Definitely it’s a free-kick, no question about it, but that does not have to be a yellow card in this fixture,” Ljungberg said.
“You look at the first-half, challenges flying in, nothing really happening, I think that’s really unfair and it changed the game”“He knows he’s got a yellow card, to give him a second yellow card and send him off for that, I think that’s really wrong and that’s a refereeing mistake,” Schmeichel added.“I think as a referee you need to read the situation as well and that he’s given the first one, this one for me is definitely not a second card,” Stam concluded.Despite his misfortune, Gravenberch looking as good as he did should be seen as a big positive for Iraola and Liverpool. Though he will be ruled out of Saturday’s visit to the Gtech Stadium, he can hopefully build on this performance in midweek against LASK.