Everton’s Historic Victory at Old Trafford Amidst Controversy

omidbasir- Everton’s visit to Old Trafford delivered one of the most unexpected moments of the Premier League season when Idrissa Gueye received a red card just 13 minutes into the match for slapping his own teammate, Keane, during a heated exchange on the pitch. The incident followed a misdirected pass from Gueye that allowed Manchester United to create a scoring opportunity, prompting referee Tony Harrington to intervene swiftly.

Despite the turmoil, Everton showed remarkable composure, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall spearheading a counterattack and scoring a stunning goal to give the Toffees the lead before the halftime break. Anticipating a second-half onslaught from their opponents, Everton instead showcased impressive defensive organization, successfully thwarting United’s increasingly frantic efforts to level the score.

Everton’s determination held strong as Manchester United wasted several chances through Bruno Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee, and Amad Diallo. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several crucial saves, allowing the Toffees to secure a historic victory, marking David Moyes’ first Premier League win at Old Trafford in 17 attempts as an away manager with Everton, West Ham, and Sunderland.

Moyes expressed surprise at the quick dismissal of Gueye, suggesting that the referee acted prematurely given the circumstances. He noted, “If nothing happened, I don’t think anyone in the stadium would have been surprised. I thought the referee could have taken a bit longer to think about it. I was informed that the rules indicate a slap on a teammate could lead to a red card.”

The manager emphasized that such confrontations among teammates do not typically concern him. “Yet, there’s another aspect: I value my players demonstrating passion and intensity when someone doesn’t perform as expected. That toughness and resilience is vital for achieving results.”

Following the match, Gueye promptly addressed the situation, apologizing for his actions and expressing gratitude to his teammates for their efforts.

The incident overshadowed an otherwise gritty performance by Everton, which initially seemed at risk of falling apart after Seamus Coleman was injured just minutes into his first start in two months. Losing their captain and going down to ten men left Everton vulnerable, yet the team responded with a collective sharpness, reorganizing defensively and maintaining a compact structure that proved difficult for United to penetrate.

In his post-match analysis, Moyes praised his team’s mentality, structure, and resilience, emphasizing the importance of securing a win at Old Trafford, especially under such challenging circumstances. He remarked that Everton “demonstrated the toughness behind the scenes” that had helped them overcome recent challenges, showcasing the “resilience and discipline” he expects from his squad when facing formidable opponents.

Looking ahead, Everton aims to build on this pivotal victory as they seek momentum in their campaign. Following a mixed start to the Premier League season, the Toffees will face Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest in their upcoming fixtures, prior to challenging matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Gueye is expected to face suspension for the upcoming matches against Newcastle and Bournemouth. However, should Everton decide to impose additional penalties, his return could be delayed until the festive period.