Manchester United suffered another setback as Everton claimed a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, despite playing more than 75 minutes with 10 men after Idrissa Gueye was sent off for striking team-mate Michael Keane. The defeat piled pressure on Ruben Amorim and provoked loud boos from the home crowd.
The incident between Gueye and centre-back Keane came early in the first half. Replays showed Gueye raise his hand toward Keane’s face; Gueye later apologised to team-mates at full-time. Rather than United taking control after the sending-off, Everton grew into the game and took the lead through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Dewsbury-Hall produced a solo run to the edge of the box and fired past Senne Lammens, who could only get fingertips to the strike, to make it 1-0. United, missing Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha through injury, struggled to make their numerical advantage count. Their best first-half opportunity came from a long-range Bruno Fernandes effort that was comfortably saved by Jordan Pickford.
The second half offered United little more cohesion. Half-time substitute Mason Mount missed two chances, Bryan Mbeumo had an effort kept out by Pickford, and Joshua Zirkzee — making his first start for United in 225 days — forced two excellent saves from the Everton goalkeeper and headed wide from a Kobbie Mainoo cross. Despite sustained pressure at times, United could not break Everton down.
Amorim retained his 3-4-2-1 shape throughout, a decision that prompted criticism from Gary Neville on co-commentary. “You have five at the back, why? They still don’t win the first ball or second ball. Embarrassing,” Neville said, adding that the substitutions and lack of tactical flexibility left United stuck in a cul-de-sac.
David Moyes recorded his first Old Trafford win as a visiting manager and praised the character of his players despite the red card. “If nothing happened, I don’t think anyone in the stadium would have been surprised,” Moyes said, while acknowledging the referee’s decision and saying he understood both sides. He added that he accepts players get angry with team-mates at times and that the apology from Gueye was appropriate.
Amorim was frank in his post-match assessment. “Frustration, disappointment with the way we played the game,” he told Sky Sports. “They were the better team with 11 men. They defended really well with 10 men for 70 minutes. We deserved to lose. We didn’t play well, with the right intensity. We are not there, not even near the point that we should be to fight for the best positions. We have a lot to do.” On the red card he said he did not agree with the sending off and described “fighting” between team-mates as part of the competitive spirit he wants, though he recognised the referee’s view on violent conduct.
Gary Neville was scathing on The Gary Neville Podcast, calling the performance complacent and warning that such displays erode confidence and trust. “It just smelt of complacency,” he said. “You can’t go from the fight that they showed in certain games to that. The fans booed collectively at the end. It was loud, and rightly so. That was a really poor performance.”
Dewsbury-Hall was named Player of the Match and celebrated the team’s grit after the game. “Rollercoaster game. I’ll sleep well tonight,” he said. He described Gueye’s reaction after the incident as apologetic and praised the squad’s response, saying they grew into the situation rather than collapse.
Key performers and ratings (as assessed after the match):
– Manchester United: Senne Lammens 4; Yoro 5, De Ligt 5, Shaw 3; Mazraoui 4, Casemiro 3, Fernandes 4, Dorgu 4; Amad 4, Zirkzee 3, Mbeumo 5. Subs included Mount 4, Dalot 4, Mainoo 4.
– Everton: Jordan Pickford 9; Coleman (n/a), Tarkowski 8, Keane 8, Mykolenko 7; Gueye 1, Garner 7, Dewsbury-Hall 9; Ndiaye 8, Barry 8, Grealish 8. Subs included O’Brien 7.
What’s next: Both teams return to Premier League action as the season continues, with United left to reflect on tactical questions and a worrying performance at home while Everton head back to Merseyside buoyed by a resilient away display.