Ruben Amorim says Everton’s Idrissa Gueye should not have been sent off for striking teammate Michael Keane during his side’s 1-0 win at Manchester United – and believes altercations between players during matches over mistakes are a “good feeling”.
United appeared well placed to earn a fifth straight home win when Gueye saw red in the 13th minute after being adjudged to have hit defender Keane in the face during an argument, only for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to score 16 minutes later as part of a surprise victory for the 10-player Toffees.
“He’s snapped at his OWN team-mate”
Idrissa Gueye is sent-off after raising a hand at Michael Keane 😰 pic.twitter.com/zNIcEU2fA5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 24, 2025
“Fighting is not a bad thing,” said Amorim. “Fighting does not mean that [players] don’t like each other.
“Fighting is ‘you lose the ball, I will fight you because we will suffer a goal [conceded].’ I don’t agree with the sending off.”
Idrissa Gueye red card: Amorim ‘afraid’ over Man United
Amorim accused his players of lacking “understanding of the moment” after Senegal midfielder Gueye raised his hand to defender Keane, with the contact appearing to be minimal but referee Tony Harrington issuing the punishment for violent conduct.
“I hope that when my players lose the ball, they fight each other,” said Amorim, adding that United had lacked “intensity” and failed to channel the necessary “excitement” over the chance to move two points behind second-placed Chelsea following a five-match unbeaten run.
OUTSTANDING from Dewsbury-Hall!
10-player Everton take the lead at Old Trafford! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vFHvhV9YkS
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 24, 2025
“They cannot get sent off, but that is a good feeling, not a bad feeling.
“We didn’t understand the moments of the game. That is my fault – I need to explain to the players how to play in every situation. It’s my responsibility to explain the game.
“It was the team, not one mistake or individual. I feel afraid of returning to the feeling of last season [when United finished 15th and without a trophy].
“That is my biggest concern. The players are trying but we need to be better. We have a lot to do and we are going to do it.”
Amorim: United ‘not even near’
The Portuguese suggested injured forwards Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha would have helped United break down Everton’s “low blocks where there is no space”.
“But that is just an excuse,” he added. “We are not even near where we should be to fight for the best positions in the league.”
United, who are three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in 10th, are next in action away to fifth-placed Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday (12:00 GMT / 07:00 ET / 04:00 PT).
Everton will start three points ahead of 14th-placed Newcastle when they host the Magpies on Saturday (17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT).
You can also relive live text updates and stats from Man United vs Everton in the Premier League here.
Man United team vs Everton
Defender Harry Maguire and new signing Sesko were unavailable for United because of injuries sustained in the 2-2 draw at Spurs on November 8, while Cunha was out after suffering an issue in training.
Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro came in, with 18-year-old winger Shea Lacey in the squad for the first time.
Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was back on the bench, as was centre-back Lisandro Martinez following a long-term knee injury.
Manchester United starting XI: Senne Lammens, Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt, Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee
Man United substitutes: Altay Bayindir, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, Shea Lacey
Everton team vs Manchester United
Defenders Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and Nathan Patterson (foot and groin) were out for Everton, as was on-loan Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl.
Seamus Coleman made his first club start of the season but was forced off with a hamstring injury after 10 minutes.
Everton starting XI: Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Vitalii Mykolenko, James Garner, Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish, Thierno Barry
Everton substitutes: Mark Travers, Tom King, Dwight McNeil, Beto, Jake O’Brien, Tyler Dibling, Carlos Alcaraz, Adam Aznou, Tim Iroegbunam
Manchester United v Everton stats
- United were beaten at home for the first time since losing their opener to Arsenal, finishing with an expected goals count of 1.66 to Everton’s 0.23
- They had been on a six-match winning run against Everton until February 22, when the sides drew 2-2 at Goodison Park
- Everton’s previous win against United came on April 9 2022, when Anthony Gordon – now with Newcastle – scored the only goal in their home victory
- Moyes was in charge of United when Everton last prevailed there, winning 1-0 through Bryan Oviedo’s 86th-minute goal on December 4, 2013
- The Scot won at Old Trafford for the first time as a manager at the 18th attempt
- More than five hours of football had passed since Everton’s previous goal at United, Andros Townsend earning Rafael Benitez’s team a 1-1 draw on October 2, 2021
- United’s tally of 623 attempted passes was their highest total in a single league match this season
- Everton have gone a third match unbeaten for the first time since September 13
- A three-match winless league run is United’s longest such streak since they went eight games without victory between April 1 and May 16
Premier League results this weekend
Nottingham Forest’s victory at reigning champions Liverpool to move out of the relegation was the most notable of Saturday’s results, while Chelsea won at Burnley to move second, staying ahead of Manchester City after the Cityzens lost at Newcastle.
After Aston Villa came from behind to win at Leeds United through two second-half Morgan Rogers goals on Sunday, Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table to six points by winning 4-1 at home to Tottenham, including a 25-minute Eberechi Eze hat-trick either side of half-time.
Saturday, November 22
Burnley 0-2 Chelsea
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Brentford
Fulham 1-0 Sunderland
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 2-1 Manchester City
Sunday, November 23
Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
Monday, November 24
Manchester United 0-1 Everton
