David Moyes ‘quite likes’ Everton infighting after Idrissa Gueye sent off for slapping team-mate - reaction | OneFootball

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David Moyes' bizarre reaction to Idrissa Gueye being sent off for slapping Everton teammate after United win

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.”

Pinned

How Idrissa Gueye’s moment of madness inspired David Moyes’ Old Trafford revenge

A slap in the face from Idrissa Gueye became a kick in the teeth for Ruben Amorim. The stinging blow was not the one that brought perhaps the season’s strangest sending off. Not as Manchester United’s unbeaten run came to an abrupt, abject end. If ignominy seemed to belong to Everton when Gueye was shown the red card, theirs was a defiant glory. The team that fought each other beat the team that had no fight.

On a night of unexpected incidents, a footballer was sent off for violent conduct against a teammate and David Moyes won at Old Trafford. Some may wonder which was odder.

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. If good things come to those who wait, few have waited longer than the Scot to punch the Old Trafford air in celebration at the final whistle. A magnificent, memorable triumph came courtesy of a spectacular goal by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. “An amazing result,” said Moyes. The context made it all the more remarkable.

Richard Jolly’s takeaways from Old Trafford:

How Idrissa Gueye’s moment of madness inspired David Moyes’ Old Trafford revenge

Manchester United 0-1 Everton: A spirited David Moyes won at Old Trafford in the Premier League for the first time as an away manager – and the ridiculous red card made it all the greater a night for the Toffees

Read more

Will Castle25 November 2025 13:22

A year on from Ruben Amorim’s arrival Manchester United remain stuck in a rut of their own making

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.”

And yet, if Amorim was not getting carried away, the manner of the defeat both underlined some of United’s shortcomings and suggested some are inseparable from the manager and his style of play.

A year on from Amorim’s arrival Man United remain stuck in a rut of their own making

Misfiring signings, injuries to promising players and a refusal to budge from 3-4-3 have all combined to leave United floundering when they should be forging ahead

Richard Jolly 25 November 2025 15:29

WATCH: When team-mates collide

Will Castle25 November 2025 14:30

A year on from Ruben Amorim’s arrival, Manchester United remain stuck in a rut of their own making

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.”

Read more from Richard Jolly:

A year on from Amorim’s arrival Man United remain stuck in a rut of their own making

Misfiring signings, injuries to promising players and a refusal to budge from 3-4-3 have all combined to leave United floundering when they should be forging ahead

Will Castle25 November 2025 14:13

Where was Matheus Cunha yesterday?

Matheus Cunha was absent from Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Everton at Old Trafford due to a minor knock picked up in training on Saturday.

The Brazil forward is not in the squad due to the injury, which is not believed to be serious, and which was accidentally revealed over the weekend after Cunha missed a Christmas lights switch-on in Altrincham.

Cunha had been due to switch on the lights with Sam Aston, who plays Chesney in Coronation Street, but a social media post from Visit Altrincham sent Manchester United supporters into a panic when they said he could not attend.

Matheus Cunha not in Man United squad after missing Christmas lights switch-on

Cunha picked up a minor knock in training in news first reported by Altrincham town hall after the forward missed a Christmas lights event

Will Castle25 November 2025 13:42

Ruben Amorim: 'I hope my players fight each other'

Ruben Amorim has defended Idrissa Gueye’s scrap with Everton team-mate Michael Keane, arguing that it demonstrates just the type of fight he wants from his own players.

"Fighting is not a bad thing," he said. "Fighting doesn't mean you don't like each other. Fighting means you lose the ball and I will fight you because we will suffer a goal. That was my feeling.

"I don't agree with that red card. We can fight with team-mates. I know it's violent conduct because the referee explained but I don't agree.

"I hope my players, when they lose the ball, they fight each other - though they cannot get sent off! But that is a good feeling, not a bad feeling."

(Getty Images)

Man United must respond after 'really bad' Everton defeat, says Matthijs De Ligt

Matthijs de Ligt says Manchester United must stick together, pinpoint their problems and bounce back from Monday's "really bad night" at home to 10-man Everton.

Dutch defender De Ligt said: "I think today was a really bad night for us, especially the way we played against 10 men.

"We conceded one goal, we didn't create a lot of chances. I think overall just a really bad performance today.

"The next game (at Crystal Palace), obviously, is really important now. We have to bounce back from this performance.

"We had some good performances the last couple of weeks, and now we had a bad one. I think we can all say that.

"Now it's for us the case to come back, to stay together and to make clear what has to be better because, obviously, today was not good enough."

(Getty Images)