Manchester United's promising five-match unbeaten streak came to a crashing halt on Monday evening as they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against a resilient ten-man Everton at Old Trafford.
The result represents a significant setback for manager Ruben Amorim, whose side missed a golden opportunity to climb into the Premier League's top four. Instead, they were left frustrated by a determined Everton team that defied the odds after an extraordinary early dismissal.
Bizarre Red Card Rocks Everton
The match took a surreal turn inside the opening 15 minutes when Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was shown a straight red card following an angry confrontation with his own teammate, Michael Keane.
In a moment of sheer madness, Gueye appeared to raise his hand to Keane's face during their heated exchange. The referee had no choice but to dismiss the Senegalese international for violent conduct, leaving the Toffees to play the remainder of the match with just ten men. Gueye now faces an automatic three-match ban.
Dewsbury-Hall Stunner Silences Old Trafford
Against all expectations, it was Everton who struck first. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall produced a moment of individual brilliance to give the visitors a surprise lead.
Collecting the ball outside the penalty area, Dewsbury-Hall evaded several challenges before curling a magnificent effort beyond the reach of United goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The stunning strike left Old Trafford in stunned silence and gave Everton something to protect for over 70 minutes.
Pickford's Heroics Deny United
England's number one, Jordan Pickford, delivered a goalkeeping masterclass to preserve Everton's unlikely lead. The former Sunderland stopper produced a series of outstanding saves throughout the match.
His most spectacular intervention came when he denied Bruno Fernandes from long range. Pickford followed that with several crucial stops to tip goal-bound headers from Joshua Zirkzee over the bar, ensuring his clean sheet remained intact.
United's appeals for a penalty were waved away in the second half when Bryan Mbeumo went down under a challenge from Michael Keane. Replays suggested the Everton defender had made slight contact with the ball before the man.
The defeat raises fresh questions about United's attacking options, with Zirkzee struggling to make an impact in his first Premier League start of the season. The Dutch forward was largely ineffective despite playing the full 90 minutes.
