Manchester United's Extremely Consistent Inconsistency

MANCHESTER, MONDAY — After a perfect October with a record winning streak, Manchester United failed to secure consecutive victories in three matches during November. The acute inconsistency of "The Red Devils" became evident after suffering a defeat at home against ten-man Everton.

MU once again sank into expectations at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, on Tuesday (25/11/2025) early morning WIB. Amid the players' high confidence due to four consecutive home victories, Bruno Fernandes and his teammates were defeated 0-1 by the visiting team, Everton.

It is unfortunate that MU lost in front of their own supporters despite having a numerical advantage. Everton was forced to play with ten players from the 13th minute after midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off by the referee. In the middle of the half, the visiting team surprisingly took the lead with a goal from midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

This was Everton's second victory in their last 33 visits to Old Trafford, the first since December 2013. "They are a better team with 11 players or 10 players. We were not at the same intensity. They deserved to win," said MU Coach Ruben Amorim.

An unusual incident occurred just 13 minutes into the match. Gueye received a red card for fighting with his own teammate, Michael Keane. They argued due to a communication error during a defensive situation, and then Gueye suddenly slapped Keane's face.

Everton's momentum was at risk of being shattered instantly due to Gueye's immature behavior. Before the red card, the visiting team showed promise from the kickoff. They troubled MU's defense significantly with threats from both flanks, through Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye.

"That was a crazy moment that should have been avoided. Idrissa already apologized during the break. The most important thing is the reaction of the players afterwards. It is unbelievable. We could have easily fallen apart and lost just like that, but instead, we became even more united," said Dewsbury-Hall.

Instead of taking advantage of their numerical superiority, the MU squad appeared to be asleep. Their midfield, which seemed vulnerable from the first minute, was once again successfully exploited by Everton. The visiting team capitalized on this with a goal from an individual effort by Dewsbury-Hall.

The goal illustrates the poor state of MU's defensive organization. Despite having a numerical advantage, they still failed to close down the passing lane to Dewsbury-Hall from James Garner. The two holding midfielders of MU, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, merely watched as the ball moved towards Dewsbury-Hall.

For Everton, one goal was enough to play it safe for the remainder of the match. Coach David Moyes instructed the team to adopt a total defensive strategy with a very low line. They implemented a bus parking scheme, especially throughout the second half. Only striker Thierno Barry was left alone up front.

Amorim activated an all-out attacking mode after the halftime break. He replaced wing-back Noussair Mazraoui with midfielder Mason Mount. Mount became an attacking midfielder in the 3-4-2-1 formation, while Amad Diallo returned to the wing to fill Mazraoui's role.

After struggling with consistency in defense during the first half, MU displayed inconsistency in their finishing. "The Red Devils" squandered a total of 17 shot attempts in the second half. "Quality in the penalty area is important," explained Amorim.

MU nearly relied solely on cross passes. They targeted striker Joshua Zirkzee, who has a towering height. Zirkzee managed to create two golden opportunities with headers, but they were thwarted by the heroic actions of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Fernandes, the team captain, also had a great opportunity in the middle of the second half. He was unmarked in the penalty area after receiving a cross. However, the midfielder's execution was far from expectations. His shot soared high above the Everton crossbar.

"The opposing team helped us with a red card. We should have been able to do more at every moment. We need to apply more pressure in their final third. I feel this is a setback, especially with the way we played. Everyone needs to perform better," concluded Amorim.

As a result of this outcome, MU must settle for being in 10th place. They have only added two points in their last three matches. This achievement is vastly different compared to last October, when they won three times out of three matches. MU's defense, which has already conceded 19 goals, remains the biggest issue.

The inconsistency of MU, which is remarkably consistent, indicates that Amorim's team is still in a transitional phase. The framework of the team is beginning to take shape, and the players are starting to understand the three-defender system implemented by the coach. However, this system still reveals many gaps.

On the other hand, Everton Manager David Moyes is not too concerned about the Gueye incident. "I quite like my players to fight among themselves and get annoyed with each other (for the good of the team). If you want a team with a winning mentality, you need players who react like that. Of course, I am disappointed that our player was sent off," he stated. (AP/REUTERS)