Our Everton jury return to have their say on the seismic 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday night
Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, Michael Keane and Jack Grealish celebrate after Everton's win over Manchester United
Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, Michael Keane and Jack Grealish celebrate after Everton's win over Manchester United
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Idrissa Gueye’s sending off for slapping team-mate Michael Keane could not stop Everton from picking up a huge win against Manchester United. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ended David Moyes’ Old Trafford hoodoo when he scored the only goal of the game just before the half-hour mark.
Moyes had never won a Premier League match as a visiting manager in 17 previous attempts. The victory was also Everton’s first at Old Trafford since they won 1-0 under Roberto Martinez in December 2013.
And with Monday night’s game still in mind, our Everton jury have returned to have their say on what occurred at Old Trafford.
James Kellett - The shattering of a psychological barrier
The impact of Everton’s shock 1-0 victory against Manchester United will have on the players, manager, and supporters alike will be huge.
In recent years, every supporter has been filled with the dread of visiting a 'Big Six' stadium and just praying for a solitary point.
Although Anfield and Old Trafford have been the notable pair that have haunted Everton for decades, the Toffees have always struggled to overcome their horrendous record when travelling to the league's ‘biggest’ clubs.
Even though the Blues secured a famous win at Anfield in 2021, that particular season was characterised by freak results and, if anything, devalued a lot of victories, considering zero or minimal supporters could attend such matches.
Some may say that the opinion to write off results in the 2020/21 season is a silly one, but the task of getting positive results in this season at such difficult stadia was much easier, as the crowd factor was completely removed.
So, when removing the 20/21 season, Everton’s win at Old Trafford was their first at a ‘Big Six’ stadium since 2013.
To put that into context, before the win against the Red Devils, Ipswich Town, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City, and Bradford City had all recorded at least one win at a Big Six ground more recently than the Toffees.
David Moyes celebrates following victory in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
David Moyes celebrates following victory in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
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That stat in itself sums up how poor Everton have been when visiting those select number of elite clubs in recent years, but with that dearly craved win finally in the bag, a shot of relief and hope has been reinjected into the club.
If Evertonians were told that they were going to win 1-0 at Old Trafford on Monday, many would assume it would come from a dominant performance that the Blues had control over, but to go and win in the most ‘un-Everton’ manner possible simply adds to the elation of the result.
Having lost your captain to injury and then being reduced to ten men inside the first 13 minutes, only to go on and win, is an achievement that even some of the finest football teams in the world would struggle to do when travelling to Manchester United.
After Idrissa Gana Gueye’s embarrassing red card, it seemed as though it was going to be a repeat of a script we have seen so many times before when facing elite opposition, but against all odds, Everton were resilient and sealed one of their most famous Premier League wins.
With the three points providing the perfect boost as we head into the hectic Christmas period, the long-term impact this victory could supply is also vital.
Monday night's win has now given the team concrete evidence that, in times of hardship, when you will be mentally and physically pushed to your limits, there is still always a chance to come out on top, regardless of who or where you are playing.
Everton became the only team in Premier League history to win at Old Trafford when having a player sent off, and if they continue to set records such as this, what can stop them from achieving heights many thought were not possible only a year ago?
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Paul McParlan - Not sitting ducks anymore
What an absolutely fantastic performance and a fabulous result it was at Old Trafford on Monday evening.
It was another sign that Everton are moving in the right direction and that we have a squad and a manager who can play entertaining football as well as fight tooth and nail to hang on to a lead.
Seeing this side display such qualities of resilience and responding to controversial refereeing calls was so uplifting. In previous campaigns we might have folded and lost, but this time we responded in the best way possible with a stunning win.
This was a richly deserved reward for the travelling Blues who celebrated with the players at the end. We need more nights like these! There has been a significant mentality shift at the club at every level.
It was brilliant to hear our match winner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, articulate this in his post-match interview when he said: “It's about going to big places like this and trying to impose ourselves, not just be sitting ducks waiting to get beat."
For too long now too many Everton players and managers have hidden behind this mentality and have accepted defeat at places like Old Trafford as inevitable.
Everton players celebrate their win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025
Everton players celebrate their win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025(Image: Phil Duncan/Every Second Media/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
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There were outstanding displays all over the park. Jack Grealish delivered another midfield masterclass, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had his best game of the season.
Although Everton have focused on bringing in younger players during the summer, Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall have shown the benefit of bringing in experienced Premier League performers who have played at the highest level, have ambitions to feature in the World Cup and want to be a part of this new project.
It is a pity that in many reports the dismissal of Idrissa Gana Gueye was the focus rather than the Herculean effort of the team to hang on to their lead. Jordan Pickford was astounding in goal again. What a fantastic custodian he is, the best I have seen since Neville Southall.
I loved the scene at the end when Jake O’Brien went over to applaud the fans with blood pouring from his nose. No fuss, no drama, just an example of the resilience and the will to win that David Moyes has installed into this side.
It will be another tough test for Everton against Newcastle United on Saturday, especially without the suspended Gana Gueye. But Everton have shown they now have enough options available to cope with this.
We are above Arne Slot’s one-season wonders, who spent a record-breaking £440 million this summer, in the table, and we are three points off a European place. This team is starting to look like a serious contender.
A win on Saturday will only add to the belief that “we are not sitting ducks anymore."
Mark McParlan - This performance ran throughout the team
Nights like that are what football is all about. After thirteen minutes, every Evertonian feared our good start was wasted and miserable defeat inevitable.
But David Moyes and the team did not dwell on the negative. It happened, we moved on, and we won the game. It would have been stupid to devote energy on the night, or any of the precious fifteen minutes of half-time going through the whole incident.
We saw instead a whole team professional performance, togetherness, a battling spirit and resilience. We deserved our rewards of three points and a clean sheet away from home.
This performance ran throughout the team. Jordan Pickford’s save from the Joshua Zirkzee header is the best I’ve witnessed this season. Utterly magnificent, on that second replay.
We set the tone right from the beginning in winning our individual battles: James Tarkowski masterfully roughing up Zirkzee but using all his experience to keep on the right side of a booking. Michael Keane’s renaissance / unfancied-cult-hero status continues apace.
Jake O’Brien on for Seamus Coleman at right-back was likewise excellent and clearly still has a big role to play in the team. Two clean sheets on the bounce, and only 13 conceded in 12 Premier League matches.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall took his goal magnificently and may well have been Man of the Match without it. He, like Jack Grealish, clearly shows the value of Premier League players at the right age, ready to hit the ground running from day one.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish of Everton celebrate during the Premier League win over Manchester United. Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish of Everton celebrate during the Premier League win over Manchester United. Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
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I hope Thomas Tuchel was watching our six English starters, rather than Luke Shaw or Mason Mount.
Up front, Thierno Barry did precisely the job he needed to do. Many fans were asking for him to have a consistent run in the team to settle, and now he is contributing to our general performances.
Overtaking our dear neighbours in the table is a sensational feeling after their summer hubris, spending a quarter of a billion pounds on two players who have returned nothing.
But forget them – let’s be optimistic now. We’ve got some really, really good players in this team. Looking at Saturday, Newcastle United haven’t won a single away league fixture this season.
I’m expecting that match, under the lights, after an inspirational televised win, to prove the best atmosphere that Bramley-Moore Dock has heard yet. Honestly, I’m still just so delighted, and that feeling has not worn off one bit.