With Michael Carrick under pressure, Steven Gerrard did not hold back when offering his assessment of the current crop of players at Manchester United

Steven Gerrard earmarked six Manchester United players who are "not good enough" for the club. Gerrard was speaking soon after the awful 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.

Michael Carrick's position is under immense scrutiny, but many believe the crop of players at his disposal are not at the right level. The loss to the Cherries left United languishing in 16th, where they are now just one point above the relegation zone.

Carrick is expected to take training on Tuesday, but his future beyond that is uncertain, with Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann being eyed as potential replacements. While Carrick is the one under pressure, Gerrard believes many of the United manager's players are not up to scratch.

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Speaking on Overlap Daily, Gerrard said: "Manchester United, if you go through the squad, they’ve got some good players. Bruno Fernandes is the best player. I look at him and when I watch him and when he’s at it, even though I’m a Liverpool fan, he’s a pleasure to watch. He’s a terrific footballer talent-wise.

"But if you go through the squad, the back four. Harry Maguire’s had a really good career, Luke Shaw, I played with Luke, he was top in his day. They’re not Manchester United players anymore. They should have been moved on quicker.

"Lisandro Martinez last year, only interested in the World Cup. He’s come back, he’s seen that the players haven’t signed, the four or five that he wants…in his world. Selfishly comes out and speaks then gets injured, goes off at half-time with a kick [against Leeds] and he’s fit the next game. That stinks to me.

"You look at the midfield, they signed a player from Chelsea, £50 million, [Andrey] Santos, not a Manchester United player. Then it goes to recruitment higher up.

"Why are you signing players that are not good enough to play for Manchester United? These [are] the only players you can attract now, but he’s not a Manchester United player.

"[Carlos] Baleba, £70 million. He’s got potential. He’s not ready to help Manchester United compete at the top of the league now.

"You look on the sides of the pitch. When I played against United, you had [Ryan] Giggs, [David] Beckham, world class players. I look at the sides of the pitch. Young Amad [Diallo]. Hot and cold. When he’s good, he’s good. But hasn’t shown nothing this season.”

Santos arrived from Chelsea for £50m in the summer whole Baleba was a late signing from Brighton and Hove Albion for around £70m. They were Carrick's two most expensive signings of the summer and the two pillars of United's midfield rebuild.

It's yet to have the desired effect, particularly in the last two matches when United were overran in the middle of the park by Como and Bournemouth.

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