Everton secured a remarkable and historic 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, achieving the feat despite playing most of the match with ten men after a bizarre first-half incident involving teammates Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane.
The Bizarre Incident That Shook Goodison Park
The Premier League clash was turned on its head after just 13 minutes when a heated exchange between Everton's Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane escalated dramatically. The dispute began following a piece of poor play from Keane that gifted Manchester United a promising attacking opportunity.
With the ball out of play, the confrontation continued inside Everton's own 18-yard box, requiring intervention from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to separate the pair. In a moment of sheer frustration, Gueye was shown a straight red card after appearing to slap his defensive partner, Keane, round the face.
A Historic Fightback Against the Odds
Facing an entire match with a numerical disadvantage at one of English football's most formidable grounds, Everton's prospects looked bleak. However, David Moyes's side displayed immense resilience.
The ten men took a shock lead just before the half-hour mark, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's brilliant strike proving to be the match-winner. The Toffees then dug deep, with Jordan Pickford making a series of crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet and secure a famous three points.
This victory marked a Premier League milestone, as Everton became the first team ever to go down to ten men and win at Old Trafford in the competition's history.
Post-Match Reactions and Revelations
The final whistle triggered jubilant celebrations from the Everton players and their travelling supporters. In a light-hearted moment that captured the surreal nature of the evening, Jack Grealish jokingly reenacted the first-half slap, playfully striking Keane around the face. The defender, elated with the result, saw the funny side.
Manager David Moyes provided insight into the dressing room dynamics after the game, revealing that Gueye had apologised to the entire team. Moyes told Sky Sports, "He's apologised for the sending off, he's praised the players and thanked them for it and apologised for what happened."
The Everton boss also offered a surprising perspective on the altercation, stating, "I like my players fighting each other if someone didn't do the right action. If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it." He did, however, express disappointment at the resulting red card.
