Sir Alex Ferguson once reflected on the difficulty of visiting Leeds United, writing: “The crowd invariably give us the impression that a lynching would be too good for us.” On this occasion, Manchester United did not deliver any sense of calm under Carrick. Instead, they left Elland Road with a performance that raised as many issues as it settled.

Lisandro Martínez drew attention for his criticism of Manchester United’s technical director Jason Wilcox, and his verdict on Carrick was similarly guarded. “He does his best,” the World Cup winner said.

“Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams know how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season [it] is a big problem.”

Carrick responded with a bold tactical adjustment. United moved away from their usual 4-2-3-1 and set up in a fluid system that changed with the phase of play and Leeds’ positioning. Out of possession, they shifted into a back five, with Amad Diallo tracking Gabriel Gudmundsson’s advances. With no natural left winger or center forward in the starting XI, Carrick used Bryan Mbeumo alongside Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans in a narrow front three. That front line combined neatly for the opener, as Tielemans released Amad before continuing his run and providing the first-time pass for Mbeumo to finish.

Martínez’s presence was also significant at the back. Carrick ignored the backlash from the defender’s midweek outburst and kept him in the side, and the decision was quickly justified. Before the interval, Leeds were restricted to four shots and only 0.25 xG, with Harry Maguire and Martínez maintaining control. But Martínez went off at half-time after appearing to pick up a knock, and the change soon altered the game.

Noussair Mazraoui came on and was placed to the left of Maguire, while Leny Yoro continued in his hybrid right-back and center-back role. Six minutes later, Yoro’s response to difficult circumstances became even more important after Mazraoui conceded a corner and was beaten in the air by Tarik Muharemović, who helped set up Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser.

United’s midweek trip to Madrid had already left its mark, but Yoro produced a far more encouraging response to his first senior red card. Asked to handle a demanding role in a hostile setting, he repeatedly got across to clear danger as Leeds increased the pressure.

Bruno Fernandes, though, remains short of his best. Since his hat trick against Ipswich Town at the end of August, he has produced a goal or assist in only one of his next eight appearances for Manchester United, and that came against Azerbaijan upstarts Sabah FK.

Michael Carrick has brushed aside the noise around Lisandro Martínez’s recent outburst, explaining why the defender remains in Manchester United’s starting line-up for Sunday’s meeting with Leeds United.

The manager said the club had already dealt with the matter and had moved on, even though Martínez’s comments only came a few days ago and prompted a later apology. Carrick made clear that selection decisions were now being driven by preparation for the contest rather than the controversy surrounding the player.

“What’s done is done and we’ve moved on,” Carrick sternly told Sky Sports, pointing toward Martínez’s belated apology, which was the second clarification of his damning statement. “So we have done that and we’ve prepared the team. We know their threats, their strengths, we know that. We’ve got some as well, so we’ll get the balance right.”

Carrick also struck an upbeat note about United’s prospects, despite the team’s fragile form. He has continued to insist that his side are still “in the mix” for both Premier League and Champions League honours, and he sounded similarly positive about the trip.

“It’s a challenging place to come, of course it is, but it’s a fantastic game to be involved with and we’re in a good place to come and attack it and look forward to it,” Carrick claimed. “You’ve got to bring a little bit of everything, and none more so than today. The atmosphere and the intensity that naturally is generated in a game like this is something that brings it out in us as well.”

The team sheet reflects that stance. Martínez starts in a back four alongside Harry Maguire, while Senne Lammens is in goal and Diogo Dalot also features in defence. United’s bench includes Karl Darlow, Harry Amass, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount, Shea Lacey, Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee.

Even with Carrick talking up reconciliation, the reality appears practical. United remain short of defensive alternatives who can step in for Martínez and partner Maguire, making the arrangement as much about necessity as forgiveness.

A fresh round of Premier League action arrives with Gameweek 7 beginning in Merseyside and ending in north London, and there should be no shortage of movement across the weekend’s fixtures.

Chelsea open the slate at Everton after a commanding 5-1 win over Bournemouth, a result Xabi Alonso described as a “complete performance” from his side. Jordan Henderson’s brace, along with goals from João Pedro and Morgan Rogers, has added to the sense that Chelsea are building momentum. Everton, though, have not lost in the league so far and remain difficult to beat at home, even if their recent record in this fixture favours the visitors only narrowly.

Liverpool travel to Brentford after a high-scoring midweek outing against LASK, while Manchester City will look to answer their own recent setback when Ipswich visit. Newcastle, meanwhile, face an Aston Villa side that appears to be settling after a mixed start, and Fulham meet Hull in a game that could be stubborn rather than open.

The south coast brings another notable contest as Bournemouth and Sunderland both come in after Thursday European wins. Brighton also return home after a convincing continental outing, although Crystal Palace’s strong league form means that match may be tighter than the table suggests.

Sunday’s headline fixture takes Leeds against Manchester United. United remain under scrutiny after a difficult start, and Elland Road is not the sort of venue that offers easy relief. Leeds have already shown enough resilience to suggest they can make life awkward again.

At the City Ground, Arsenal face a Nottingham Forest side that has made a habit of frustrating them on home soil. Forest have only one league win so far, but the numbers behind them suggest they are not far off a better return.

Tottenham close the round against Coventry, with the visitors arriving in confident mood after consecutive wins. Spurs are still searching for rhythm, but this looks like a chance to impose control if they can settle quickly.