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Idrissa Gueye received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Unprecedented Situation in Premier League

The midfielder became the first Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they played with 10 men for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.

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

Team Response

Gueye was unable to secure an opportunity to converse with the manager or his colleagues at half-time. Afterwards, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old requested to speak to the whole team and Keane in particular.

• He expressed regret to Keane for striking him across the face
• The intense 13th-minute altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• Additionally he apologized to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were warmly received by the players

Potential Ramifications

Gueye may yet be disciplined by Everton despite the manager's statement that he appreciates his players competing with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is expected to be applied in Gueye's case.

Ban and International Commitments

The Merseyside club could be without their key midfielder until the January. Gueye will serve a three-game ban against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but could be selected for AFCON duty by his national team before he can return to play against Chelsea on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'

Opposition Perspective

Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt accused United of lacking immediacy 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,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' who drop back it's difficult

The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'