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The Everton midfielder received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during the recent victory at Old Trafford.

Unprecedented Situation in English Football

The midfielder became the initial Premier League player to be sent off for striking a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck Michael Keane during the match. The Toffees' performance was remarkable as they competed with a man down for the majority of the game, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Team Reaction

Gueye did not get an opportunity to speak with the manager or his colleagues at half-time. Afterwards, with the away dressing room buzzing after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old requested to speak to the entire group and the defender specifically.

• He expressed regret to Keane for striking him across the face
• The heated early altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• He also apologized to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the squad

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old could still be disciplined by the club despite Moyes' statement that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard punishment process for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is expected to be applied in Gueye's case.

Suspension and National Team Duty

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key player until the January. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match ban against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Forest but could be called up for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on mid-December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt accused his team of lacking urgency in Monday's loss, which ended their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' said the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

The Red Devils head to Selhurst Park for Sunday's lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'