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Idrissa Gueye received a round of applause from his fellow squad members after delivering an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent triumph at Manchester United.

Unprecedented Incident in English Football

The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in 17 years when he struck Michael Keane during the match. The Toffees' performance was remarkable as they competed with 10 men for 85 minutes, including added time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Team Reaction

The Senegalese international did not get an chance to speak with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the veteran requested to speak to the whole team and the defender in particular.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the face
• The intense early altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
• He also apologized to the squad for leaving them with a monumental task
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the players

Possible Consequences

Gueye may yet be punished by the club despite Moyes' statement that he likes his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard punishment process for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is expected to be implemented in Gueye's case.

Suspension and International Commitments

Everton may find themselves without their key player until the January. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be called up for AFCON duty by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'

Opposition Reaction

At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt accused his team of showing no urgency in the recent loss, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Dutch defender
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

United head to Selhurst Park for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'