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Idrissa Gueye received a round of applause from his fellow squad members after delivering an apology for his shocking dismissal during Monday's triumph at Old Trafford.

Unprecedented Incident in Premier League

The midfielder earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a teammate in 17 years when he slapped his defensive colleague during the match. Everton's performance was heroic as they played with a man down for the majority of the game, including added time, to secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.

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

Team Response

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to converse with the manager or his teammates at half-time. Following the match, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the entire group and the defender in particular.

• He expressed regret to the defender for slapping him across the head
• The heated 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
• Additionally he said sorry to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were warmly received by the squad

Possible Consequences

The 36-year-old could still be punished by the club despite the manager's admission that he likes his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard punishment process for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is expected to be implemented in Gueye's case.

Suspension and National Team Duty

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key midfielder until the January. Gueye will serve a three-game ban against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on 13 December.

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

Opposition Reaction

Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt accused his team of showing no urgency in the recent loss, which halted their winning streak at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
• '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. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'