Newcastle's next opponents were left with ten men against Manchester United after Idrissa Gueye was shown a straight red card
Idrissa Gueye is sent off during Everton vs Manchester United
Idrissa Gueye was sent off during Everton's clash against Manchester United(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Idrissa Gueye received his marching orders for Everton during their clash with Manchester United after striking his own team-mate, Michael Keane. It has handed Newcastle United a big boost for their clash with the Toffees on Saturday tea-time, with Gueye set to miss the clash through suspension.
The flashpoint came after only 13 minutes, with the Toffees' centre-back frustrated by some careless play that led to a Red Devils counter-attack.
The Senegalese midfielder was clearly furious as he confronted his colleague, Keane, inside Everton's penalty area, while the ball was dead. The pair squared up before Gueye appeared to make contact with Keane's face, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford was forced to intervene between the two players, and 36-year-old Gueye was brandished a straight red card by official Tony Harrington.
Pickford had to restrain the enraged midfielder while Keane pointed to his own head, seemingly questioning what his team-mate was playing at.
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The Premier League Match Centre verified the rationale for the dismissal on social media, writing: "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 centre-back Gary Neville was providing commentary for the match and remarked: "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."
This is the first instance of a player being dismissed for an altercation with their own teammate since Ricardo Fuller was shown the red card for slapping his Stoke City captain, Andy Griffin, back in 2008.
Newcastle's Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer were also notoriously involved in a fracas at St. James' Park against Aston Villa back in 2005, with both players receiving straight red cards.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock for Everton in the 29th minute with a superb finish, leaving United with a task on their hands.
After receiving the ball from James Garner, driving forward and switching onto his right foot, the Toffees' midfielder found the back of the net from the edge of the box, despite goalkeeper Senne Lammens getting a hand to it.
Ruben Amorim's side entered the match unbeaten in their last five games, securing 11 points from a possible 15 but will need to stage a comeback to secure a result tonight.