Kerkez demands Liverpool response after 3-0 Man City defeat at Anfield

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Kerkez demands Liverpool response after 3-0 Man City defeat at Anfield

Synopsis

Liverpool's 3-0 home loss to Manchester City — the first under manager Andoni Iraola — was shaped by a single red card in the 62nd minute. Defender Milos Kerkez insists the game was level and competitive before Gravenberch's dismissal; now the Reds head to Austria to face LASK, with a squad and a new manager both needing a fast answer.

Key Takeaways

Liverpool suffered a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday — the first loss under manager Andoni Iraola .
Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute with a second yellow card, leaving Liverpool with 10 men ; City scored all three goals in the second half.
Defender Milos Kerkez said on Tuesday : 'We need to win games; this club needs to win games.' Kerkez stressed Liverpool competed well before the dismissal, calling the game 'on' at 0-0 deep into the match.
Liverpool's next fixture is a UEFA Champions League away tie against Austrian side LASK on Wednesday .

Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez has called on his side to refocus on winning after the club suffered a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, insisting that results remain the only priority as Liverpool prepare for a UEFA Champions League away fixture against Austrian side LASK on Wednesday.

A First Defeat Under Iraola

The loss marked the first defeat for Liverpool under manager Andoni Iraola, a result that will sting given it came on home soil and in front of the Anfield faithful. City remained goalless for more than an hour before scoring three times in the second half, capitalising on a pivotal moment that fundamentally altered the complexion of the contest.

The turning point arrived in the 62nd minute, when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card, leaving the Reds to defend with 10 men for the final half-hour. City, with their well-documented capacity to dominate possession and exploit space, punished the numerical disadvantage ruthlessly.

What Kerkez Said

'The result is the most important [thing] in football. It's definitely the result. We need to win games; this club needs to win games, so we need to do that,' Kerkez said in an interview with Stadium Astro on Tuesday.

The Hungarian left-back acknowledged the team's frustration but was keen to emphasise that Liverpool had competed effectively before the red card changed the dynamic. 'We are frustrated, definitely. I think we did well in the first half. We pushed a lot, and also when we had situations to defend, I think we defended really well,' he said.

Kerkez further noted that the contest was finely balanced well into the second half: 'The game was on; it was 0-0, and we pushed them. They had moments, and we defended well. We pushed them again. The game was on, definitely. It was just moments — who's going to score first?'

Reflecting on the dismissal's impact, Kerkez conceded the difficulty of containing City with a reduced side: 'But at the end of the day, it's football. We got the red, and after that they kept the ball a lot, and they're really good on the ball, so it was tough.'

The Road to Recovery

Liverpool now travel to face LASK in the Champions League, a fixture that offers an immediate opportunity to restore confidence and momentum. This comes amid what is still an early phase of Iraola's tenure at the club, making the manner of the response — rather than the result itself — a significant indicator of the squad's mentality.

Notably, Liverpool had shown encouraging signs before Gravenberch's dismissal, suggesting the defeat may be more attributable to circumstance than a collapse in form or structure. The challenge now is to translate those positive passages of play into results on the continent.

What to Watch Next

The Wednesday Champions League tie against LASK will be closely watched as a barometer of how quickly Liverpool can regroup. Beyond that, attention will return to the Premier League, where avoiding a prolonged dip in form will be critical as the season intensifies.

Point of View

And Iraola's structural work is visible. But optics matter: first home loss, biggest margin, a man sent off. The real test of this squad's character is whether they treat the LASK trip as a reset or let the Anfield embarrassment linger. For Iraola, managing the narrative as much as the tactics is now part of the job.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Liverpool lose 3-0 to Manchester City?
Liverpool's 3-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday was largely shaped by Ryan Gravenberch 's red card in the 62nd minute , which left the Reds with 10 men. City scored all three goals in the second half, exploiting the numerical advantage with their trademark ball retention.
What did Milos Kerkez say after the Manchester City defeat?
Kerkez said winning is the only priority for Liverpool, stating: 'We need to win games; this club needs to win games.' He also argued Liverpool had competed well in the first half and that the game was still level before Gravenberch's dismissal changed the contest.
When is Liverpool's next match after the Man City loss?
Liverpool face Austrian side LASK in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday , an away fixture that offers an immediate opportunity to bounce back from the Premier League defeat.
Was this Andoni Iraola's first defeat as Liverpool manager?
Yes, the 3-0 home loss to Manchester City on Sunday was the first defeat for Liverpool under manager Andoni Iraola since he took charge of the club.
Who was sent off in the Liverpool vs Manchester City match?
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was shown a second yellow card in the 62nd minute , leaving his side to play the remainder of the match with 10 men and effectively gifting City the opportunity to dominate the closing stages.
Nation Press
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