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The Everton midfielder received a round of applause from his fellow squad members after delivering an explanation for his shocking red card during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Rare Incident in Premier League

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

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

Team Response

Gueye was unable to secure an opportunity to speak with Moyes or his teammates at half-time. Afterwards, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran requested to address the whole team and Keane in particular.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for striking him across the face
• The heated 13th-minute altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
• Additionally he apologized to the team for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were warmly received by the squad

Potential Consequences

Gueye could still be punished by Everton despite the manager's admission that he likes his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is expected to be implemented in Gueye's case.

Suspension and International Commitments

Everton could be without their influential player until the January. Gueye will complete a three-game suspension against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but might be called up for AFCON duty by his national team before he can return to play against the Blues on mid-December.

'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender accused his team of lacking immediacy in Monday's loss, which halted their winning streak at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Dutch defender
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it's difficult

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