Benjamin Šeško was absent from Manchester United’s squad for the trip to Fulham after Michael Carrick confirmed the striker is being assessed over an unspecified injury.

Carrick had managed Šeško carefully at the start of the season, using him as a substitute in United’s first four Premier League matches. The 23-year-old was then fit to start the club’s opening Champions League game of the campaign, where he scored in the win over Sabah FK, and he also featured in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Earlier this month, Šeško had sounded upbeat about his recovery, saying: “I think waiting a little bit longer was a great decision, and now it’s healed, so it’s perfect,” Šeško insisted earlier this month.

Carrick’s latest update offered little clarity on the situation. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “He pulled up after the game the other day with a little bit of pain, so we’ll have to see how he is,” was all the Manchester United manager would offer.

In Šeško’s absence, Matheus Cunha kept his place through the middle. That decision left some fans frustrated, particularly with Amad Diallo unavailable on the right and Bryan Mbeumo regularly deployed there instead of being used as a central option.

Cunha brings link play and combines neatly with Bruno Fernandes, but he does not offer the same direct running that Mbeumo provides. Even so, Fulham’s tendency to leave space for opponents this season means United may still find openings without Šeško.

There is also anticipation around Carlos Baleba, who has still not made his Manchester United debut. Signed for $93.7 million (£70 million) and unveiled almost a month ago, he arrived from Brighton with an ankle injury. His first appearance could be confirmed at Craven Cottage.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has accepted that supporters have every reason to feel uneasy after a mixed start to his time at Anfield.

“I understand the frustration the other day because we were also frustrated,” Iraola said in response.

He pointed to the contrast between two promising performances and the dip against Fulham, stressing that the team have already shown the level they want to reach. “I think we were coming from two good games and we were considering it as a step forward, then we had a step backwards. The performance level is not like the two other days. This happens in football.

“We have to accept it in terms of … there are going to be up and downs in this process, but we are clear that where we want to go is more towards where we have been against Atlético Madrid and Ipswich, that’s the kind of style, that’s the kind of football we want. The key now is the consistency to perform like this.”

After five matches, it would be premature to expect complete fluency from a side adapting to a new manager and operating without Mohamed Salah. Such changes take time, and Liverpool’s early weeks have already shown how uneven that process can be.

Fatigue has become a clear thread in their recent struggles. Following the Fulham match, Iraola highlighted a lack of “freshness” and suggested physical issues were more damaging than tactical ones.

The schedule has played its part. Liverpool’s first week with more than one match of the Iraola tenure included a win over Atlético Madrid on Wednesday before the trip to Fulham on Saturday. That sort of turnaround makes it difficult for any manager to keep every player fresh.

To ease the load, Iraola would have to alter training methods and prioritise recovery, even if that slows the team’s understanding of his run-first approach. There is rarely a clean solution.

The fixtures keep coming. Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, then host Bournemouth, Iraola’s former employers, in the Premier League on Sunday before the international break.

The first midweek stretch of the season has already brought Champions League and Carabao Cup action, and the Premier League schedule now tightens again around Gameweek 4.

Sunday’s Manchester derby is the clear centrepiece, but there is plenty elsewhere to weigh up, from Chelsea and Liverpool enjoying home advantage to Arsenal facing a testing trip away from home.

Here is a revised look at how the weekend may unfold, based strictly on the evidence from recent form, results and context in the draft.

Aston Villa are tipped to edge Nottingham Forest 2-1, with both sides still searching for their first league win and Villa Park likely to favour the home team. Bournemouth and Brentford could cancel each other out in a 1-1 draw, while Chelsea are expected to make short work of Hull and win 3-0 as their attack meets a defence that has impressed but may not be able to sustain that level.

Crystal Palace are backed to beat Ipswich 2-1 after a timely lift in form, and Liverpool are forecast to defeat Fulham 3-1, with the hosts carrying momentum into the fixture. Tottenham and Everton look set for a 1-1 draw, a result that would fit the recent frustrations around Spurs and the unbeaten start made by the visitors.

Arsenal are predicted to keep their perfect start going with a narrow 1-0 win at Sunderland, while Brighton are expected to leave Coventry with a 3-1 victory. The weekend’s biggest game, Man Utd against Man City, is called as another 1-1 draw, reflecting uncertainty on both sides despite City’s winning run.

Monday closes with Leeds against Newcastle, a meeting that could finish 2-2 after both clubs have shown enough going forward to suggest another open contest.