Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United tenure took a devastating turn on November 24, 2025, with a humiliating 1-0 home defeat to Everton despite playing against 10 men for 77 minutes—the first such Old Trafford loss in Premier League history. The Reds, who dominated possession but created zero shots on target, saw their five-match unbeaten run end in frustration, dropping to 10th and intensifying pressure on the Portuguese boss. Amorim, blunt in defeat, admitted his side is “nowhere near” title contention and “not even close” to the standards demanded at Old Trafford. His plea for players to “fight each other” when losing the ball—echoing David Moyes’ post-Gueye/Keane bust-up philosophy—highlights a squad lacking the ruthlessness to capitalize on advantages, raising fears of a repeat of last season’s 15th-place nightmare.
Key Match Highlights
- Scoreline: Man Utd 0-1 Everton (HT 0-0)
- Everton Goal: Dewsbury-Hall (29′)
- Red Card: Gueye (13′, strike on Keane)
- Possession: Utd 68%—0 shots on target (Everton 4/9)
- xG: Utd 1.2 vs Everton 1.8
- Attendance: 73,661 (Old Trafford sell-out)
- Man Utd Form: 5-match unbeaten snapped; 10th (18 pts)
- Everton Form: 17th (10 pts); 1 win in 8
United’s inability to break down 10 men for 77 minutes exposed tactical frailties and individual errors, from Dorgu’s/Yoro’s sloppy passes to Diallo’s poor choices.
The Unthinkable Unfolds: Numerical Edge Wasted
13th minute: Gueye’s open-hand slap on Keane after argument—straight red (VAR upheld). Pickford separates; Harrington: “Violent conduct—clear strike.”
Moyes: “Big enough to apologize—mistake. Accepted, move on.”
Dewsbury-Hall: “Madness—grew us. Moment passed.”
United: Labored 77 minutes—0 shots on target; 68% possession futile. Dewsbury-Hall’s 29th-minute curler (Zirkzee error) sole goal.
Amorim: “Frustration, disappointment—better team, deserved lose. 20 mins, red—win no matter what.”
Diallo (for injured Cunha): Wrong choices. Zirkzee (first start): Peripheral. Mainoo (Casemiro sub): Pressed claim? No.
Amorim: “Started well 30 mins—conceded, no create. Adjustments? Didn’t work. My responsibility.”
Amorim’s Verdict: “Nowhere Near” – A Plea for Internal Fire
Post-match: “Feel afraid returning last season’s feeling—biggest concern. Work together—players trying, but better.”
On Gueye/Keane: “Fighting not bad—lose ball, ‘fight you—we suffer goal.’ Hope my players fight each other.”
Moyes echo: “Toughness for winning—passion key.”
Carragher: “Encourage? Risky—reds cost games.”
Neville: “Not Bowyer-Dyer—gut yellow.”
Amorim: “Know point in run—always say same: Not near fighting best. Praise evolution? No—work.”
October award (Manager of Month): Fleeting—November regression.
November Nightmare: From Hope to Horror
5-match unbeaten (October)—award win. November: 3 losses (City 0-3, Forest 0-1, Everton 0-1).
PL: 10th (18 pts)—3 off top 4, but 6 losses = 2014/15 total.
Last season 15th—unacceptable. Ten Hag sacked November 2024; Amorim in.
Amorim: “Evolution praised? Not near supposed standards.”
The Road Ahead: CL Chase or Continued Chaos?
November fixtures:
- Tottenham (A, Nov 30)
- Bayern (H, CL, Dec 3)
- Crystal Palace (A, Dec 7)
European free: Unlike Palace (Europa Thursday).
Injuries: Cunha (muscle), Casemiro (knee)—Diallo/Mainoo failed claims.
Amorim: “£250m summer—lift squad. But 10th? Unclear identity.”
Hearn—no, Amorim: “Work together—be better.”
Verdict: Amorim’s Plea – Fight or Fade
Man Utd 0-1 Everton: Numerical gift wasted—frustration boils.
Amorim: “Nowhere near”—internal fire plea echoes Moyes.
November regression: 5-unbeaten to 3 losses—last season ghosts.
CL or catastrophe? Tottenham/Bayern/Palace—test time.
