Walk On: The Athletic FC's Liverpool show Liverpool crumble... but does it mean anything?
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Oct 12, 2026 
Football journalists James Pearce and Simon Hughes join Tony Evans to dissect Liverpool’s flat defeat by Manchester City, Ryan Gravenberch’s contentious red card and an attack short of spark. They examine the Premier League’s credibility amid City’s unresolved charges, Liverpool’s troubling league form and pressure on Iriola. Can a Champions League trip to LASK provide a reset?
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Liverpool’s Missing Attack Changed The Contest
- Liverpool’s pre-match narrative about confronting City obscured how severely injuries weakened their attack.
- Missing Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai left Liverpool short of creativity, and the red card exposed that lack of attacking depth.
Why Anfield’s Atmosphere Felt Unnatural
- The pre-match focus on provoking City made Anfield’s atmosphere feel forced rather than naturally driven by Liverpool’s performance.
- The crowd finally lifted when Liverpool created second-half momentum, showing that Anfield responds best to the team’s actions.
Gravenberch’s Red Card Felt Inconsistent
- James Pearce judged Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal harsh because both yellows were soft and the second-yellow threshold seemed inconsistently applied.
- Gravenberch had been Liverpool’s best player, combining intelligent ball carrying with physical strength before leaving the team exposed.