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

Unprecedented Situation in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the first 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. Everton's performance was heroic as they competed with 10 men for 85 minutes, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.

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

Team Reaction

Gueye did not get an chance to speak with Moyes or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old requested to speak to the entire group and the defender in particular.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the head
• The heated early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
• He also said sorry to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were positively accepted by the players

Possible Consequences

The 36-year-old could still be punished by Everton despite the manager's statement that he likes his team members fighting with each other. Moyes has a regular punishment process for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is expected to be applied in Gueye's case.

Ban and National Team Duty

The Merseyside club could be without their key player until the January. Gueye will serve a three-match ban against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on 13 December.

'Emotions can run high,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt accused United of lacking urgency in Monday's loss, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult

The Red Devils head to Selhurst Park for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said De Ligt. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'