Ruben Amorim delivered one of his most blunt assessments yet after Manchester United fell 1–0 at home to Everton, despite playing more than 75 minutes with a numerical advantage. The United head coach warned that his team remains “far from perfection” and nowhere near the standards required to challenge for top positions in the Premier League.
The defeat marks one of the most surprising results of the season, especially given Everton were reduced to 10 players early in the first half following a heated on-pitch confrontation between Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane. What might have been an advantage for United quickly turned into another frustrating chapter in a season marked by inconsistency.
United Struggle Despite Early Red Card
The early dismissal should have offered United the chance to take control. Instead, long spells of the match were defined by misplaced passes, slow transitions, and a lack of composure under pressure.
Young defenders Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro struggled to play out from the back, often losing possession in areas that invited Everton forward. In attack, chances fell to experienced players like Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo, but neither delivered the decisive moment United desperately needed.
Amad Diallo, stepping in for the injured Matheus Cunha, failed to find the right decisions in the final third, while Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo were unable to make a convincing case for regular minutes as they each chase World Cup opportunities.
Even goalkeeper Senne Lammens drew criticism after failing to stop Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half shot — the strike that ultimately secured Everton’s unlikely win.
United produced only one major threat late in the match, a Zirkzee header palmed away by Jordan Pickford. Beyond that, their attacking play lacked sharpness and urgency.
Amorim: “We Need to Be Perfect — We Weren’t Even Close”
Amorim had already cautioned fans and journalists before the match not to overstate United’s five-game unbeaten run. That warning now feels prophetic.
“We are not there, not even close to where we should be if we want to fight for the best positions,” he said. “We have to be perfect to win matches, and today we were nowhere near perfect.”
The result also underscores a worrying trend: United letting valuable points slip away. Against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, they led in both matches but failed to secure wins. Had they held on, they would have been sitting near the top of the table. Instead, their inability to manage key moments continues to cost them.
A win against Everton would have lifted United into the top five. Instead, they remain 10th — just three points off the top four but struggling to find stability.
A Historic Defeat at Old Trafford
This match marks the first time Manchester United have ever lost at Old Trafford in the Premier League after the opposition received a red card. In the previous 46 occurrences, United had won 36 and drawn 10.
Amorim admitted the atmosphere at Old Trafford demanded far more from his team. “The stadium was ready for us to take a big step,” he said. “But we weren’t ready.”
“I Hope My Players Fight Each Other” — Amorim Wants Real Drive and Accountability
While Everton boss David Moyes surprisingly praised the Gueye-Keane clash as evidence of commitment, Amorim went a step further. He said he welcomed the idea of players holding each other accountable — though obviously without the disciplinary consequences.
“Fighting is not always negative,” he said. “Fight because you care, because losing the ball will cost us a goal. I hope my players fight each other when the standards drop.”
Amorim stressed that growth isn’t linear. After winning Manager of the Month in October, he’s seen regression in November. He fears slipping back into the unsettling patterns of last season, when United looked vulnerable in every match.
“My biggest concern is returning to the feeling of last season,” he said. “The players are trying, but trying is not enough. We must be better.”
What Comes Next for Manchester United?
United now face a demanding run of fixtures with no European matches to distract from their league campaign. The club spent over £250 million in the summer to rebuild the squad, and expectations were high after finishing a disappointing eighth last season.
Sitting 10th in the table, the team is still within striking distance of the top four — but only if they can find consistency and cut out the costly errors that continue to define their season.
The upcoming match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park offers an opportunity to reset. But as Amorim made clear, improvement will require more than hope.
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