Idrissa Gana Gueye is shown a red card
Idrissa Gana Gueye is shown a red card
Idrissa Gueye was sent off for Everton against for slapping his own teammate, Michael Keane. The incident occurred after just 13 minutes, with the Toffees' defender unhappy about some sloppy play leading up to a United attack.
The Senegalese midfielder was visibly irate as he approached his teammate, Keane, inside Everton's 18-yard box, with the ball out of play. The two players went head-to-head before Gueye appeared to strike Keane on the face.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to separate the two players, and 36-year-old Gueye was shown a straight red card by referee Tony Harrington.
Pickford had to hold back the incensed midfielder as Keane gestured to his own head, appearing to ask his own teammate what he was thinking.
The Match Centre confirmed the reason behind the red card on social media, stating: "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."
Former United defender was on commentary duty for the game and said: "It's a coming together between him and Michael Keane. It always looks unsavoury when it's teammate on teammate.
"Idrissa Gueye has gone over to Keane - he hasn't really reacted. He just pushes him, and then there's not much in it. There's not much in it. I mean, I think Jordan Pickford does a very good job [breaking it up] to be fair to him."
It's the first time a player has been sent off for an altercation involving their own teammate since Ricardo Fuller was sent off for slapping his own Stoke City captain, Andy Griffin, back in 2008.
Newcastle United duo Kieran Dyer and Lee Bowyer were also infamously involved in a spat at St. James' Park against Aston Villa back in 2005, with both players shown straight reds.
Despite being down to 10 men, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring for Everton in the 29th minute with a brilliant finish, leaving United with work to do.
Receiving the ball from James Garner, driving forward and checking onto his right foot, the Toffees' midfielder picked out the back of the net from the edge of the box, despite goalkeeper Senne Lammens getting a hand to it.
Heading into the game, Ruben Amorim's side were unbeaten in their last five games, taking 11 points from a possible 15 but will have to come from behind to get a result tonight.