Manchester United's promising unbeaten run under new boss Ruben Amorim was brought to an abrupt and disappointing end following a 1-0 defeat to Everton at Old Trafford. The Red Devils, who had secured a 2-2 draw against Tottenham before the international break, were hoping to extend their impressive five-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League. Instead, they succumbed to a narrow loss that saw them drop to 10th position in the league table, failing to secure a coveted European spot.

The match saw several key player changes for both sides. For Manchester United, Joshua Zirkzee made his first start of the season, stepping in for Matheus Cunha, who was sidelined after suffering a head injury in training. Benjamin Sesko was also unavailable due to a knee injury. In defense, Leny Yoro replaced Harry Maguire, while Lisandro Martinez made a welcome return to Ruben Amorim’s squad, marking his first appearance since February after recovering from major knee surgery.

On the Everton side, veteran skipper Seamus Coleman returned to David Moyes' starting XI, marking the sole change from the team that secured a 2-0 victory against Fulham a fortnight prior. Tim Iroegbunam was moved to the bench as Everton aimed for their first away win since August, a target they ultimately achieved.

The game took a dramatic turn just 13 minutes in when Everton's Idrissa Gueye was controversially sent off for clashing with his own teammate, Michael Keane. This incident left Everton playing with 10 men for the vast majority of the match. Despite this significant numerical disadvantage, the visitors displayed remarkable resilience. Against the odds, Everton seized the lead through a thunderous strike from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, a goal that would ultimately prove to be the winner.

In the second half, Manchester United intensified their efforts, pushing hard for an equalizer. However, Everton's ten-man defense stood firm, repelling wave after wave of attacks. Despite playing for 77 minutes with an extra man, the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances and only managed a mere six shots on target. Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee were among those who came closest to finding the back of the net, but their efforts were in vain, leaving the Old Trafford faithful in dismay.

Speaking after the game, a visibly disappointed Ruben Amorim offered his candid thoughts on the performance. He stated, "Everton were the better team with 11 players or 10. I felt since the first minute that we were not there with the same intensity, so they deserved the win." The United boss further admitted that this defeat felt like a significant step backward, particularly "in the way we played the game. Forget about the results. The result is also really bad, but I’m more concerned with the feeling I had during the game." His comments underscored the profound frustration within the camp regarding their inability to capitalize on the numerical advantage and demonstrate the required intensity.