Old Trafford has seen its fair share of drama over the years, but few matches have unfolded quite like Everton’s astonishing 1-0 victory over Manchester United on November 24, 2025. The Premier League contest will be remembered not just for the result, but for a truly bizarre incident that saw Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye sent off for striking his own teammate, Michael Keane, just 13 minutes into the game.
Everton arrived in Manchester as underdogs, having only won once in their previous 32 Premier League visits to Old Trafford. United, meanwhile, were riding a five-match unbeaten streak and eyeing a leap up the table. The opening exchanges hinted at a classic encounter, but what transpired stunned both sets of fans and set social media ablaze.
The chaos began when a miscommunication in Everton’s back line nearly gifted Bruno Fernandes a goal. Gueye, under pressure inside his own penalty area, played a pass into open space—clearly expecting Keane to move onto it. Keane hesitated, Fernandes pounced, and his shot whistled just over the bar. The close call sparked a heated exchange between the two Everton players. Keane shoved Gueye, and in a flash of anger, Gueye retaliated with a left-handed slap to Keane’s face. Referee Tony Harrington wasted no time, brandishing a red card for violent conduct. The decision was swiftly confirmed by VAR, with the Premier League Match Centre posting, “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.”
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and winger Iliman Ndiaye rushed in to prevent the situation from escalating, physically restraining Gueye and guiding him off the pitch. Gueye, visibly furious, continued to shout toward Keane as he left the field. The Toffees were now facing the daunting prospect of playing nearly an entire match at Old Trafford with just 10 men.
Yet, if the home crowd thought United would cruise to victory, they were mistaken. Everton, remarkably, regrouped and struck first. In the 29th minute, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall picked up the ball just outside the penalty area, danced past Bruno Fernandes and Leny Yoro, and unleashed a curling shot into the top corner. The goal was a thing of beauty and sent the traveling Everton fans into raptures. Dewsbury-Hall later described the game as a “rollercoaster” and praised his teammates: “I’m so genuinely happy for the lads and how hard they worked. A fantastic performance of gritting away, getting a goal and keeping that spirit. So glad we got the three points.”
Everton’s resilience was tested time and again as United dominated possession, especially in the second half. The Red Devils fired 25 shots at Jordan Pickford’s goal, but the England international was in inspired form. His saves, including a crucial late stop to deny Joshua Zirkzee’s powerful header, preserved Everton’s slender lead. United’s efforts grew increasingly frantic, with coach Ruben Amorim making a series of attacking substitutions—Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, and Diogo Dalot all entered the fray—but the breakthrough never came. “They were the better team, with 11 players or 10,” Amorim admitted after the match. “I felt from the first minute that we were not there with the same intensity so they deserve the win.”
The match was also notable for a rare and unwanted record: Gueye became the first Premier League player to be sent off for fighting with a teammate since Ricardo Fuller’s infamous clash with Andy Griffin in 2008. The incident overshadowed what should have been a routine fixture, but it also brought out the best in Everton’s squad. Dewsbury-Hall reflected on the adversity: “We move on from it. The reaction from us was unbelievable. Top tier. We could have crumbled, but if anything, it made us grow.”
Gueye, for his part, issued a heartfelt apology after the final whistle. On Instagram, he wrote, “I want to apologise first to my teammate Michael Keane. I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologise to my teammates, the staff, the fans and the club. What happened does not reflect who I am or the values I stand for. Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behavior. I’ll make sure it never happens again.” Dewsbury-Hall confirmed that Gueye had apologized to the team at full-time, and the squad was eager to move forward.
United’s defenders were left frustrated and disappointed. Dutch center-back Matthijs de Ligt offered a blunt assessment to Sky Sports: “I think the game says enough; against 10 men for 70 minutes and not creating that many chances. Today was not a good night for us. We lacked the patience to play through the lines, and we crossed a lot of balls. We need to do a lot more. In all aspects today, it felt like a step back. Not just the result, but the intensity and the focus.”
Everton’s victory was all the more impressive given they lost captain Seamus Coleman to injury in the 10th minute, just three minutes before the red card drama. Forced to reorganize both tactically and emotionally, manager David Moyes marshaled his side with trademark grit. For Moyes, it was a particularly sweet moment—his first Premier League win as a visiting coach at Old Trafford after 18 previous attempts. “I’m incredibly proud of the players and the fans,” Moyes said. “We got over the line with 10 men. We started the ball brilliantly well, got the sending off, the game changed. But we showed resilience. Manchester United are in pretty good form at the moment, so it was never going to be an easy game. Good goalkeeping when we needed it. The boys were brave.”
The result lifted Everton above city rivals and defending champions Liverpool into 11th place, level on 18 points with United but ahead on goal difference. For United, the defeat was a jarring halt to their resurgence and a reminder that nothing is guaranteed in the Premier League, especially when emotions boil over and discipline slips.
As the dust settles, Everton’s players and fans will savor a famous win—just their second at Old Trafford in 33 Premier League outings—while Gueye’s moment of madness will serve as a cautionary tale. For now, though, it’s the Toffees’ resilience and Dewsbury-Hall’s stunning strike that will live long in the memory.
