Everton defeated Manchester United 1-0 despite Idrissa Gueye being sent out for slapping teammate Michael Keane.
Referee Tony Harrington gave the Senegalese midfielder his marching orders in the 13th minute after he put his palm on Keane’s face after an intense altercation.
The home crowd anticipated surges of attack, but United failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage, becoming weak against David Moyes’ battling team.
Instead, 10-man Everton scored first, thanks to a fantastic goal by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the 29th minute.
Dewsbury-Hall took the ball and raced towards the goal, outpacing Bruno Fernandes and Leny Yoro before bending the ball into the top corner.
United struggled in the second half, with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saving Fernandes’ long-range attempt just before halftime.
Ruben Amorim replaced Noussair Mazraoui with Mason Mount at halftime to honor the one-year anniversary of his first game in command of United, but his team generated little despite dominating possession.
Amorim substituted midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Diogo Dalot for Casemiro and Yoro in the 58th minute, but United remained dull.
Pickford saved a powerful Joshua Zirkzee header with just over 10 minutes left in normal time, and Everton held on for a famous victory.
United entered the encounter at Old Trafford with a five-game unbeaten streak.
Everton were dealt a major setback in the 10th minute when captain Seamus Coleman was injured.
However, three minutes later, Gueye and Keane got into a fight that was barely plausible.
Gueye is the first Premier League player to be sent off after fighting with a teammate since 2008.
Speaking on the incident, the Premier League Match Centre posted on X, “The referee’s call of a 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.”
