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The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his Everton teammates after delivering an explanation for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent triumph at Old Trafford.

Rare Incident in English Football

The midfielder became the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in 17 years when he struck Michael Keane during the match. Everton's display was remarkable as they played with a man down for the majority of the game, including added time, to secure David Moyes' first win 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.'

Dressing Room Response

The Senegalese international did not get an chance to converse with Moyes or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old requested to address the entire group and the defender specifically.

• He expressed regret to the defender for slapping him across the face
• The intense early altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• He also said sorry to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were positively accepted by the players

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old may yet be punished by the club despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. Moyes has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is likely to be applied in this situation.

Ban and National Team Duty

Everton may find themselves without their key midfielder until the new year. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be selected for AFCON duty 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 Perspective

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

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Dutch defender
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

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