Everton’s Remarkable Victory at Old Trafford Amidst Controversy

Everton’s visit to Old Trafford produced one of the most surreal moments of the Premier League season when Idrissa Gueye was sent off just 13 minutes into the match for slapping his own teammate, Keane, during a heated on-field altercation. The incident occurred following a stray pass from Gueye that led to a Manchester United opportunity, prompting referee Tony Harrington to immediately issue a red card after witnessing the slap.

Despite the chaos, Everton regrouped impressively as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall countered effectively, delivering a superb strike to give the Toffees the lead before halftime. Anticipating a second-half assault from Manchester United against ten men, Everton instead demonstrated exceptional defensive organization, frustrating United’s increasingly desperate attempts to equalize.

Everton’s resilience was evident as Manchester United squandered several opportunities through Bruno Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee, and Amad Diallo. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made multiple crucial saves, enabling the Toffees to achieve a historic victory—manager David Moyes’ first Premier League win at Old Trafford as an away manager following 17 previous attempts with Everton, West Ham, and Sunderland.

Moyes expressed surprise at the swift dismissal, believing the referee acted too hastily under the circumstances. He remarked, “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 according to the rules, slapping your own player could lead to repercussions.”

He further clarified that confrontations between teammates do not inherently concern him as a manager, stating, “There’s another side to it: I like my players fighting each other if someone has not performed adequately. If you want toughness and resilience for a result, you expect players to respond.”

Following the match, Gueye addressed the situation, apologizing for his actions and commending his teammates for their performance under pressure.

The incident overshadowed an otherwise gritty performance from Everton, which had already seen Seamus Coleman forced off with an injury shortly after the match began. The combination of losing their captain and being reduced to ten men put Everton in a precarious position. However, the team responded with remarkable sharpness, reorganizing defensively and maintaining a compact structure that United struggled to penetrate.

Moyes emphasized his team’s mentality in his post-match reflections, praising their structure and resilience. He acknowledged the significance of securing a win at Old Trafford, especially under such challenging circumstances, stating that Everton “demonstrated the toughness behind the scenes” that has sustained them through recent adversities. The performance encapsulated the “resilience and discipline” he expects from his squad, particularly when facing a formidable opponent.

Looking ahead, Everton aims to build momentum from this victory, which could serve as a pivotal moment in their campaign. Following an inconsistent start to the Premier League season, the Toffees will seek to maintain their form in upcoming matches against Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest, before facing tougher challenges against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Idrissa Gueye is likely to be suspended for the matches against Newcastle and Bournemouth; however, if the club decides to impose additional punishment, his return could be delayed until the festive period.