Manchester United suffered a brutal reality check at Old Trafford as their five-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt against a resilient 10-man Everton side. Despite the visitors playing most of the match with ten men after Idrissa Gueye's early dismissal, the Red Devils produced a desperately poor performance, ultimately falling to a 1-0 defeat.
Early Red Card Fails to Spark United
The match turned on a bizarre incident in the early stages when Everton's Idrissa Gueye was shown a straight red card for slapping his own teammate, Michael Keane. This handed Manchester United a significant numerical advantage, but rather than capitalise, Ruben Amorim's side looked lethargic and short of ideas from the first whistle to the last.
Everton, organised and fiercely determined under David Moyes, grew into the game and took a deserved lead just before the half-hour mark. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's excellent strike proved to be the match-winner, though United goalkeeper Senne Lammens will feel he should have done better, having misjudged his jump before the shot.
Player Ratings: A Night to Forget for United Stars
The in-depth player ratings painted a grim picture for the home side. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens received a 5 for his error for the goal, while defender Luke Shaw was criticised for his performance, with Gary Neville accusing him of 'ambling' forward.
Further forward, the struggles were even more pronounced. Patrick Dorgu was handed a 4.5 for a display that featured no accurate crosses and a missed gilt-edged chance. Joshua Zirkzee also scored 4.5 on his first start of the season, being consistently bullied by Everton's James Tarkowski.
Substitutes Mason Mount and Diogo Dalot provided brief sparks, but it was too little, too late for a United side that lacked cohesion and cutting edge.
Managerial Woes and Everton's Triumph
For manager Ruben Amorim, this was a haunting 4/10 performance that evoked nightmares from last season. His team inexplicably played as if they were the side with ten men, struggling to create meaningful chances against a resolute Everton defence.
In stark contrast, Everton manager David Moyes earned a superb 8.5 for his tactical masterclass. His team's discipline and work rate after going a man down were exemplary, with James Garner particularly impressive in midfield against his former club.
This defeat leaves Manchester United with serious questions to answer about their mentality and quality, while Everton will take immense confidence from a famous and hard-fought victory at Old Trafford.
