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

Rare Situation in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he slapped his defensive colleague during the match. The Toffees' performance was remarkable as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including added time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Team Reaction

Gueye did not get an chance to converse with the manager or his teammates at half-time. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to address the whole team and the defender specifically.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for slapping him across the face
• The intense early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• Additionally he apologized to the team for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were warmly received by the players

Potential Ramifications

The 36-year-old may yet be punished by the club despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is expected to be applied in this situation.

Ban and International Commitments

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their influential player until the new year. Gueye will serve a three-game suspension against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations duty by Senegal before he can return to play against the Blues on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Perspective

At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt accused United of lacking immediacy in Monday's defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' who drop back 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.'