'Everyone needs to calm down' in volatile Premier League universe

A week is a long time in politics and a long time in football too. On Monday Night Football after Manchester United's humiliation at Brentford, Jamie Carragher criticised United’s new centre-back, Lisandro Martinez.

"Now, we should never judge managers or players too early, but I'm convinced this can't work because of the size of him playing in a back four.

"Maybe he could go left-back, maybe he could play in a back three, but in a back four, he cannot play there in the Premier League," said Carragher.

Fast forward a week later, 5ft 9in Martinez put in a stirring performance against Liverpool. The reactionary nature in football, from both pundits and fans alike, has created an absolution particularly on social media.

Ahead of the first game of the season, Erling Haaland failed to score a couple guilt-edge opportunities presented to him in the Charity Shield against Liverpool.

The other big money striker playing that day, Darwin Nunez, scored for the Reds which led to internet hot takes that Haaland was not cut out for the Premier League and Pep Guardiola’s rigid system of football.

A week later, Haaland scored two, winning a penalty and converting it himself in a one man demolition of West Ham.

"One week ago he could not adapt to the Premier League. Now he’s alongside Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo," grinned City boss Guardiola.

Now, Manchester United are back and Erik ten Hag holds all the answers, Liverpool meanwhile are in a crisis despite winning two cups last season and not being far off a coveted quadruple.

Speaking on the Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

">RTE Soccer Podcast, former Shamrock Rovers player and current underage coach