David Moyes’s 10-man Everton held on to claim an extraordinary win at Manchester United after Idrissa Gueye was sent off just 13 minutes into the match for slapping team-mate Michael Keane. Gueye became the first Premier League player to be sent off for fighting a team-mate since 2008 after raising his left hand to slap Keane, following an argument over a loose pass from Gueye that had presented a chance to Bruno Fernandes.
Referee Tony Harrington immediately produced the red card, which was confirmed by VAR Paul Howard, and Everton then stunned Old Trafford by taking the lead thanks to a stunning strike from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the half-hour mark. Improbably, Dewsbury-Hall’s goal was enough for Everton to claim their first win at Old Trafford since 2013, when Moyes was United manager, and end the hosts’ recent resurgence under Ruben Amorim.
But the red card remained the big talking point, with Moyes backing his players afterwards, saying “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.” On Sky Sports, Gary Neville said Gueye’s slap did not warrant a sending off, adding: “They were not fighting, it wasn't a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow. I don't think it needed to be a red.” But the Premier League said: “The referee’s call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed to be a clear strike to the face of Keane.”
For Moyes, this was an 18th Premier League game as a visiting manager, dating back to 2002, and a belated first triumph. Even when Everton prevailed here in 2013, Moyes was the losing United manager. “An amazing result,” said Moyes. The context made it all the more remarkable. Unhappy anniversary, Ruben. A year to the day since Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge of Manchester United came the latest illustration that his reign has been a faltering affair, where backward steps seem to outnumber strides forward. United’s best run under Amorim was followed by a 1-0 home defeat to 10-man Everton.
It could be described as a reality check. Amorim argued he did not need one. “These five weeks everyone is praising our evolution,” he said. “I'm always saying the same things: we are not even near what the moment we're supposed to be in this club.” Both Ruben Amorim and David Moyes questioned whether Idrissa Gueye should have been sent off for slapping Michael Keane - but former Everton boss Roberto Martinez had no qualms with the referee’s decision. “The referee has no other choice because the law tells you that any aggression above the neck is a red card,” he said.
