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The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an explanation for his shocking red card during Monday's triumph at Old Trafford.

Unprecedented Incident in English Football

Gueye became the initial Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they competed with 10 men for the majority of the game, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Dressing Room Response

Gueye did not get an chance to speak with the manager or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to address the entire group and Keane specifically.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for slapping him across the head
• The intense early confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
• He also said sorry to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were positively accepted by the squad

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old could still be punished by the club despite Moyes' admission that he likes his players fighting with each other. Moyes has a standard punishment process for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is likely to be applied in this situation.

Ban and International Duty

Everton may find themselves without their influential player until the January. Gueye will serve a three-game suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on 13 December.

'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'

Rival Perspective

At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt claimed United of lacking immediacy in Monday's defeat, which ended their winning streak at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

United travel to Crystal Palace for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'