That’s all from me. Congratulations to Everton for a magnificent win with a brilliant goal that was completely overshadowed by the most bizarre red cards. I have absolutely no idea where the Toffees, or Manchester United, will finish come the end of the season.
Thanks for reading, and for your emails. Until next time!
It is a brutally honest post-match interview from Ruben Amorim, although the Manchester United manager doesn’t appear to take responsibility for the defeat:
I’m really frustrated. We had a lot of crosses, chances with second balls, but the quality and the decision making was not there. We didn’t control transitions, even when they had 10 men. The understanding of the situations was not there. And then the quality was [poor] when we got to their box.
This performance surprised me. Especially in our home. Especially with what happened with the other clubs this weekend. This is more than a missed opportunity. We need to play the game in a different way. We dropped our level.
We didn’t play as a team. We were going with the flow of the game.
I mentioned this during the game, but Gueye’s sending off is the first red card issues for a ‘fight’ between teammates since Stoke’s City’s Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin went at it, all the way back in 2008.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher is also getting some heat in the studio for an altercation with Liverpool’s Álvaro Arbeloa at West Brom in 2009, with the Englishman unpunished for grabbing and pushing his teammate. Liverpool won 2-0 but here’s what Carragher had to say at the time:
It was just frustration, nothing more, it was over with quickly. We cannot win the league now but there are a number of targets we can aim for. We wanted to keep a clean sheet and we want Pepe Reina to have a chance of the Golden Glove for the third season running. Pepe is one behind [Edwin] Van der Sar now and there’s a chance Van der Sar won’t play next weekend for Manchester United, so we wanted to make sure Pepe got a clean sheet at West Brom, and again next week in our final match.
“To be honest we were a bit lackadaisical in our defending all through the game at the Hawthorns and they had too many chances. Maybe we took it a bit too easy and let them attack us too much, but that was one of the toughest games I’ve played in all season.
Updated
Brian Denton points out that Everton have also been above Liverpool in the league back in 2020-21, when “we won the first four league games under Carlo Ancelotti and were top as a result”.
David Moyes, Everton manager, is next to speak:
I’m incredibly proud of the players and the fans. We got over the line with 10 men. We started the ball brilliantly well, got the sending off, the game changed. But we showed resilience. Manchester United are in pretty good form at the moment, so it was never going to be an easy game. Good goalkeeping [from Pickford] when we needed it. The boys were brave.
Seamus Coleman felt a nick in his hamstring. I’m surprised because he has had minutes recently [with Republic of Ireland]. But that also disrupted us.
If nothing had happened afterwards, I don’t think anybody in the stadium would’ve been surprised. I thought the referee could’ve maybe taken a bit longer to think about it. If you want a winning team then I think you’ve got to have players that are going to react in that way. I’m disappointed we got the sending off but every player will tell you how angry they get with their teammates.
I quite like it when players fight each other, when players get annoyed at each other. Idrissa has apologised, and praised the players for their performance.
Updated
Dewsbury-Hall spoke very well, there. There will be a lot of chatter and analysis of Gueye’s red card, but let’s not forget that the goal that won this game was a goal-of-the-month contender.
Dewsbury-Hall picked the ball up on the turn, in a pocket of space, beat both Fernandes and Yoro before lashing a shot into the top bin.
Jamie Jackson's match report from Old Trafford
Everton’s matchwinner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, speaks to Sky Sports:
Rollercoaster game. I’ll sleep well tonight. I’m so happy. It was just a fantastic performance. Got a goal, grafted away.
We started really well but [the red card] was a moment of madness. Idrissa [Gueye] has apologised to us after the game. The sending off probably made us grow.
[Re the goal] I can’t say I’ve done that many times on the right foot. I didn’t know I had that in the locker.
We’re looking on to a brighter future. It’s about going to places like this and imposing ourselves. We are not just sitting ducks waiting to get beat.
I’ve absolutely loved it since I’ve been there. New stadium, new ownership, real shift in mentality. I can’t thank the fans enough for how they have treated me and my family since I’ve been here. It makes us want to run through brick walls. We’ll see where we are at the end of the season.
That was a damning defeat for United. Amorim will no doubt point to his injuries – notably Sesko and Cunha – but regardless of those, that was a miserable performance for which the Portuguese manager should take a lot of responsibility. I fear for United’s attack when Mbeumo and Diallo depart for Afcon in a few weeks.
“So little movement from United when they attack,” emails Burt Bosma. “It almost looks like their forwards are marking the Everton defenders.”
This is what the result does to the Premier League table. A heavy win tonight would have sent Manchester United fourth. Instead, they are 10th. Everton just behind in 11th – the first time they have been above Liverpool in the table since 2015.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 12 | 18 | 29 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 12 | 12 | 23 |
| 3 | Man City | 12 | 14 | 22 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 12 | 4 | 21 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 12 | 7 | 20 |
| 6 | Brighton | 12 | 3 | 19 |
| 7 | Sunderland | 12 | 3 | 19 |
| 8 | AFC Bournemouth | 12 | -1 | 19 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 10 | Man Utd | 12 | 0 | 18 |
| 11 | Everton | 12 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Liverpool | 12 | -2 | 18 |
| 13 | Brentford | 12 | -1 | 16 |
| 14 | Newcastle | 12 | -2 | 15 |
| 15 | Fulham | 12 | -3 | 14 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 12 | -7 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham | 12 | -10 | 11 |
| 18 | Leeds | 12 | -11 | 11 |
| 19 | Burnley | 12 | -10 | 10 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 12 | -20 | 2 |
Moyes absolutely delighted as he shakes Amorim’s hand and salutes the rampant Everton fans in the away end. What a night for those Toffees, who have endured a miserable record at Old Trafford in recent years.
The players all congregate in front of their supporters, united as one. Every single players, from Grealish to Ddiaye to matchwinner Dewsbury-Hall is wearing a smile as wide as the Mersey.
The Everton fans chant “Keano! Keano! Keano!”, as if to thank their central defender for his part in Gueye’s red card. Ha.
Full-time: Manchester United 0-1 Everton
That’s it! Everton have survived over 75 minutes with 10 men! They fully deserve the victory!
Updated
90+3 min: Corner for United! Lammens is up! The ball finds De Ligt at the back post, the Dutchman volleying goalwards but there is a brilliant block to deny the United man. Everton briefly threaten to counter attack towards the untended United net, but Diallo wins a key 50/50 to set up another United attack. Is there one more chance?!
90+2 min: United are now throwing the kitchen sink at it. De Ligt is a makeshift striker. Dalot now on the right pumping average crosses in. Shaw on the left doing the same.
90 min: Just four minutes added on. This is fairly turgid stuff from United, hit and hope stuff.
“Well I thought it would be a long time before I saw a more abject, brainless performance than England in Perth on Saturday morning,” emails Adam Hirst. “It could be just over 48 hours.”
89 min: Another Zirkzee header, another Pickford save! This one the Everton keeper should probably save, a looping effort from the Dutchman, but Everton’s keeper still does well to tip the ball over.
More Everton changes: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish are off, Dwight McNeil and Carlos Alcaraz are on.
87 min: A half chance for United, as Mainoo works an opening on the right and dinks a cross towards the near post. Zirkzee heads wide, but it was a difficult opportunity to convert.
85 min: To make matters worse for United, Yoro is penalised for a foul throw on the touchline in front of Amorim. Everton have a chance for a breather.
84 min: “Manchester United are really missing Matheus Cunha,” emails Kári Tulinius. “Other than Fernandez, he’s their one player creative enough to sow chaos in opposing defences. Everton are well drilled defensively and just need to focus on Bruno. Without creativity, the Red Devils are entirely reliant on luck.”
82 min: Finally, some Everton substitutions. Barry and Ndiaye are replaced by Tim Iroegbunam and Beto. The Toffees have around 10 minutes to see out a famous win.
81 min: Fernandes shoots from range, his effort from 30 yards curling just over. He scored a very similar goal during Covid times against Everton, but this time it wasn’t to be.
Pickford with an outrageous save!
79 min: An absurd stop from Pickford keeps Everton in front. Shaw crosses from the left, Zirkzee climbs above Tarkowski and nods towards the far corner. It looks for all the world as though the ball is going to nestle in the corner, but Pickford springs to his right and tips the ball wide! How did he get to that?!
Updated
76 min: Everton are winding down the clock with free-kicks. Barry and Grealish winning valuable set pieces. It’s surprising that Moyes hasn’t made more changes, to keep legs fresh, but the whole team appears full of energy. Barry has dominated United’s defence in the air, winning 14 aerial duels. No player has made more this season in the Premier League.
Updated
74 min: Just 16 minutes to go, plus stoppages, and there is increasing confidence that Everton can see this one. The away fans are in fine voice and Moyes is also animated on the sideline, urging his side on.
71 min: A brilliant pass from De Ligt releases Mount, who gets to the byline. The ball is cut back to Fernandes, but the Portuguese spoons a finish over the bar! It wasn’t the best pass from Mount in truth, and Fernandes had to contort his body just to get the shot off. Fernandes scowls. You know the one.
70 min: Everton manage to make it into United’s half, with Grealish, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye all looking tidy with the ball under heavy pressure. Grealish nearly carves out the opening for a shot but decides to keep the ball and frustrate United.
68 min: This is a puzzle for for Amorim to solve. And so far, the United manager has not done a very good job of it. Shea Lacey, an 18-year-old winger on the Manchester United bench for the first time, watches on as Dalot labours up and down the left flank.
66 min: Since the Everton goal, United have had 75% possession and had 14 attempts on goal to the visitors’ zero.
64 min: Fernandes and Diallo are United’s best chance of an equaliser. The latter has isolated Mykolenko on numerous occasions and put in some decent crosses. The trouble for United is that there is nobody capable of beating Tarkowski or Keane in the air. Where is Harry Maguire when you need him?!
62 min: United are getting closer! First Mbeumo forces Pickford into a neat save to his right. From the rebound, Mount collects the ball, jinks left and right and curls a peach of a shot inches wide of the far post!
60 min: Two contrasting stats: Everton have only won one match at Old Trafford in 32 years.
And … Everton have not lost when they have taken the lead in 19 matches, dating back to September 2024.
57 min: Penalty shout for United, as Keane challenges Mbeumo for a loose ball on the edge of the six-yard box! The referee waves play on, with Keane winning the ball, and replays show it was a fine tackle from the Everton centre-back.
United make two further changes: Kobbie Mainoo and Diogo Dalot on for Casemiro and Patrick Dorgu. Two straight swap. Dalot is not the most enterprising left-wing back, often cutting in on his right foot. Dorgu has been poor, but that’s a weird substitution.
55 min: This is attack versus defence, as United apply constant pressure without carving out a clear chance. If United are to score, one gets the feeling it will be through a long-range strike (deflected?), a moment of individual brilliance (Fernandes?) or possibly a cross that connects with someone in the middle (Zirkzee?).
53 min: Everton in a low block, which means the avenues to goal are a lot narrower than usual. In O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane and Mykolenko, Everton have a huge defence that should be able to deal with most crosses. Diallo whips a delivery in from the right, Mount gets his head to it but can’t divert it goalwards.
51 min: United begin to apply pressure, passing and probing on the edge of Everton’s area. Both Casemiro and Fernandes try their luck with hopeful shots, but blue shirts throw themselves in front of the ball. Two good blocks, I think from Michael Keane and Garner.
49 min: The most predictable of yellow cards, both in perpetrator and casualty, as United’s Casemiro flattens Grealish. A booking for the Brazilian.
Updated
47 min: “On the fence about this so much I’ve got splinters; common sense would suggest a yellow and a good old fashioned bollocking but if Keane’s an opposition player Guyeye’s walking with no argument whatsoever.”
Dave Estherby’s email, above, more or less sums up how most of us are feeling, I would suggest.
Peeeeeeeeeep!
The second half at Old Trafford is underway!
Manchester United make a change: Mount for Mazraoui.
That likely means that Amad will switch to the right wing and Mount will play as an inside forward, left of Zirkzee but with Dorgu overlapping down the outside.
Fernandes remains in a deeper role, as a makeshift quarterback alongside Casemiro and in front of the back three: Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw.
Half-time reading:
My inbox is divided over the red card, which only goes to show what a subjective call it was by referee Tony Harrington.
“Re the Keane-Gueye Affair, the contact is negligible in that two teammates will flare like that often and then get on with the game,” emails Gary Naylor. “The “raised hand” looks bad as does the contact, but hands are put to faces at almost every corner and nobody bats an eyelid. Surely the caveat is inserted into the law to give the officials a chance to breathe, take a moment and then apply a bit of discretion. They should have.”
“The rules are clear, people would go even madder if referees started ignoring them - why is it different because it’s teammates?” replies Dan Christmas. “Players have been getting sent off for this sort of thing for decades, it’s nothing to do with any of the rule changes that may or may not have ruined football.”
Half-time: Manchester United 0-1 Everton
Frustration and whistles at Old Trafford as Everton comfortably see out the half. What a strange half of football!
45+2min: Yellow card for Mbeumo, who pulls back Garner on a dangerous Everton counter-attack. Fernandes gave the ball away cheaply and Mbeumo actually did well to track back and make the cynical foul. Everton could well have scored a second there.
45 min: Fernandes takes aim from 25 yards … the ball heading towards the top corner … but Pickford dives to his right and produces a brilliant save! It was a bit Hollywood in truth, Pickford’s footwork was excellent and the keeper got across to it well, but it was still a fine save.
Four minutes added on here.
43 min: I’d be shocked if Amorim doesn’t make substantial changes at half-time, to both the formation and the personnel. United can afford to be a lot more attacking.
“You’d think that United will come back, but also let’s face it, not capitalising on the City and Liverpool losses would be a very United thing to do,” emails Tomasz Rykała.
Updated
41 min: Diallo has probably been United’s brightest player and the tricky Ivory Coast international has room to turn on the edge of Everton’s box. Diallo cuts onto his weaker right and drags a shot wide, but that is better from United, taking risks and responsibility.
39 min: United have been very poor, even since the red card and the goal, but the two wing-backs Mazraoui and Dorgu are at least playing very high now, pinning Everton back. Grealish and Ndiaye are now not such a threat going forward now that United have remembered that they can throw players forward.
37 min: One player that has been very quiet is Mbeumo and the Cameroon international is left on a heap on the ground. He’s going to be OK to continue, though.
35 min: I’m told that Gueye’s sending off is the first red card issues for a ‘fight’ between teammates since Stoke’s City’s Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin went at it, all the way back in 2008.
And, of course, who can forget Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer.
33 min: Quite well, it turns out. Zirkzee exchanges pass with Fernandes before whipping a brilliant low cross across the face of Everton’s goal. It finds Dorgu at the back post, but the Danish full back shoots high and wide – he really should be doing better there. Great play from Zirkzee, who has flickered between being the best and most wasteful player on the pitch here.
31 min: You can’t say that Everton don’t deserve that! How will Manchester United react?
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Everton (Dewsbury-Hall 29)
An absolutely outrageous goal from Dewsbury-Hall! The Everton midfielder cuts inside Fernandes, then beats Yoro before curling a magnificent shot into the top corner with his weaker right foot from 25 yards out! The Everton away fans erupt! WHAT. A. GOAL.
Updated
26 min: “That red card for me is the latest example of how football has become such a sanitised, prescriptive sport,” emails Matthew Hobbs. “On top of endless replays to decide whether anyone has brushed the toe of a goalkeeper or five minutes to rule on a supposedly semi-automated offside, we now have a player being sent off for some handbags with a teammate over a simple lapse in defence. Yes, the rules say a raised hand is violent conduct but is it too much to expect some common sense to be applied by officials anymore? A clip round the ear between squabbling teammates surely requires a talking to and nothing more.”
23 min: Everton look comfortable, at the moment. United haven’t managed to create anything of note.
21 min: “I like [Sky Sports co-commentator] Gary Neville, but sometimes he is contrary just for the sake of it,” emails Joshua Keeling. “At first I thought there might not be enough in it for a red card, but when you see the replays, Gueye slapped Keane in the face. It’s as clear a red card as you’ll ever see.”
I agree that I don’t think the red card will be overturned on appeal, and Gueye will almost certainly serve a full three-match ban. The official ruling is that any strike to the face is a red, “unless the force is negligible”, which is obviously open to interpretation. I think if Gueye slaps an opponent like that, it’s an obvious red. Somehow, against his own teammate, it feels like the threshold it larger. Perhaps it shouldn’t be.
19 min: United settle into a rhythm of possession but Everton still pose a threat on the break. Ndiaye leads a counter attack, skipping around a tackle and clear of Diallo, but can’t find the right through ball to Barry.
17 min: Moyes is, as you might expect, unimpressed with all that. His side now face a daunting 75ish minutes to navigate with 10 men against a team that they were previously dominating.
14 min: Replays of Gueye’s initial slap or shove on Keane are inconclusive, but there didn’t look to be much in that. Keane gave Gueye a decent shove in the chest first, almost as though to say ‘get on with the game’ and Gueye reacted by giving his teammate a bit of a clip around the ear. A red card feels harsh but the referee has ruled it as violent conduct.
RED CARD FOR EVERTON'S IDRISSA GUEYE!
13 min: After Fernandes sees a long-range shot whistle just wide of the far post, Gueye confronts his own teammate, Michael Keane. The two have a few handbags, with Gueye appearing to slap Keane in the face. Referee Tony Harrington immediately produces the red card, which sends Gueye into a frenzy, and the Senegalese has to be held back by Ndiaye and Pickford and bundled down the tunnel. Gueye was ready to throw hands there, before he was led away. What a mess for Everton, who were the dominant team here!
Updated
11 min: An early sub for Everton! Coleman comes off for O’Brien. It’s not clear if the veteran has an injury or if Moyes has been very unimpressed by Coleman’s opening 10 minutes. I suspect the latter because Coleman played a couple of loose passes and put in a dreadful cross. Coleman kicks a bottle as he goes down the touchline, he looks extremely ticked off.
9 min: Off the ball, Tarkowski shoves Zirkzee to the ground. The United forward writhes around for a bit, then gets to his feet and confronts the Everton defender, who looks down his nose at the Dutchman. There is a bit of handbags and finger-pointing and play resumes.
7 min: It’s heartening to still see right-footed players on the right wing. Iliman Ndiaye is one of the most exciting wingers in the league and the Everton wide man digs out a sensational dinked cross to the back post, where Yoro does well to glance it away. A centre forward better than Barry might have been there to nod that one in.
6 min: This has been a promising start from Everton, who are really snapping into challenges in midfield, harrying those in red. I think you might describe these opening minutes as ‘busy’ rather than full of quality.
4 min: “Looking at the teams, it’s great to see Martinez on the bench, I expect he’ll get half an hour,” emails Remo Casale. “But to me it seems United’s bench is almost stronger than the team being fielded. Martinez, Mount, Mainoo, Ugarte and Dalot. I guess Amorim knows what he’s doing, it’s not the team I’d pick.”
Lisandro Martinez hasn’t played a minute of first-team football since early February but is back in the reckoning now. He also trained with Argentina national team over the international break.
2 min: A loose pass from Coleman, who captains Everton tonight, but Dewsbury-Hall does well to retain possession and earn a free-kick. Wasted by Garner. Moyes scowls on the touchline. He knows how important set pieces are today.
PEEEEEEEEEEP!
And we’re off at Old Trafford!
A tribute in the stands at Old Trafford to Stone Roses bassist Mani, whose death was announced on Thursday.
Mani was a huge United fan. There’s a great snap of him in this gallery, at the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United in 2011.
Updated
Another favourite memory, from Paul Moody: “Would be watching Martin Buchan equaliser, very late on, I still remember my exact feelings. I was in the Stretford End but living in London. Now I live in Brasil.”
A reminder of Manchester United’s situation with their attackers. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo will depart for Afcon in the next few weeks, by which time Sesko might be back. Might.
Matheus Cunha appears is injured, although it is not exactly clear what has happened. The Brazilian had been due to turn on the Christmas lights in Altrincham on Saturday evening. But the organisers wrote on Facebook that “Unfortunately, Matheus Cunha has had an accident in training today and will not be able to attend tonight’s Christmas Lights Switch on in Altrincham due to medical reasons.” More breaking news from the Facebook pages of Altrincham, when we have it.
Joe Keggin emails: “My favourite moment from this fixture – and maybe any – was Duncan Ferguson’s winner in 2005 at a feral Goodison. My season ticket was right behind the Gwladys Street goal, and I can still see that ball in from Arteta and the chaos afterwards.”
Here’s what Moyes had to say on his return to Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee hasn’t started a match for Amorim all season, but due to the injuries to Sesko and Cunha, gets a chance to impress here. Just his sixth appearance of the season in all competitions.
Séamus Coleman, similarly, has been starved of club football but given he is 37, that is maybe not a huge surprise. The right back, however, did play all 90+ minutes of Republic of Ireland’s historic win in Hungary and that has maybe convinced David Moyes to hand Coleman his first start in over two months.
Elsewhere, it’s more or less what you would expect from either side. United line up with their 3-4-3 or 3-5-2, Everton in their 4-2-3-1.
Updated
The teams!
Manchester United: Lammens, Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu, Diallo, Mbeumo, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Dalot, Martinez, Mount, Malacia, Ugarte, Heaven, Mainoo, Lacey.
Everton: Pickford, Garner, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Coleman, Gueye, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry.
Subs: Travers, King, McNeil, Beto, O’Brien, Dibling, Alcaraz, Aznou, Iroegbunam.
Preamble
This one has a bit of a nostalgic feel, like some sort of sepia ITV fever dream with Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend on comms (unfortunately you’ll have to make do with me). Maybe it’s because it’s Old Trafford under the lights and the distant memories of those palatial Champions League evenings or maybe it’s just because Manchester United and Everton are two of England’s grandest clubs that share so many merged memories that bridge matches, players and moments (the first things that come to mind: Paul Rideout at Wembley, Wayne Rooney and Phil Neville, Alejandro Garnacho’s bicycle kick, Steven Pienaar’s equaliser in the 4-4 draw that proved to be a decisive moment in the 2012 title race). Do get in touch with your favourite moments from this fixture, or in general: michael.butler@theguardian.com.
Yes, this is a fixture rooted in the past but both clubs are entering new eras. Following over a decade of banter years, United are beginning to emerge into something approaching respectability. Of course, by the standards of Busby and Ferguson, they are still lightyears away from what might be deemed acceptable but there are green shoots under Ruben Amorim. United could possibly go fourth with a victory here, could they force their way into the reckoning for the top four come the end of the season? That would be a sizeable achievement.
New stadium and an old manager, Everton are another team in flux. Nobody is quite sure how far this team can go under David Moyes, anywhere and everything from a relegation battle to European qualification remains a possibility. That’s quite an exciting and enticing thing for Everton fans. It would be a surprise but not a shock for them to leave Manchester with all three points today, even if a win today would represent just a second victory at United in 32 years. In 17 attempts Moyes has never won at Old Trafford and was in the home dugout when Everton last won here in 2013.
It’s all set up to be a cracker.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
