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The Everton midfielder received a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during Monday's triumph at Manchester United.

Unprecedented Situation in English Football

Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he slapped Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's performance was heroic as they played with 10 men for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts.

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

Team Response

Gueye did not get an opportunity to converse with the manager or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to address the entire group and Keane in particular.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for striking him across the face
• The heated early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
• Additionally he said sorry to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were positively accepted by the players

Potential Ramifications

Gueye could still be punished by the club despite the manager's statement that he likes his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is likely to be applied in this situation.

Ban and National Team Duty

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key midfielder until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be called up for AFCON duty by his national team before he can return to play against the Blues on mid-December.

'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt claimed his team of showing no urgency in Monday's defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Dutch defender
• '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,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'