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Idrissa Gueye received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an explanation for his extraordinary red card during the recent triumph at Manchester United.

Unprecedented Situation in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in 17 years when he slapped his defensive colleague during the match. Everton's display was remarkable as they competed with a man down for the majority of the game, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Team Response

Gueye did not get an opportunity to converse with the manager or his teammates at half-time. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to address the entire group and the defender in particular.

• He expressed regret to Keane for slapping him across the head
• The intense early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• Additionally he apologized to the squad for putting them with a monumental task
• His apology were warmly received by the players

Possible Consequences

The 36-year-old could still be punished by the club despite Moyes' statement that he likes his players competing with each other. Moyes has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is expected to be applied in this situation.

Ban and National Team Commitments

The Merseyside club could be without their influential midfielder until the January. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for AFCON duty by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused United of lacking immediacy in the recent defeat, which ended their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for the weekend lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'