Manchester United are 16th in the Premier League following their worst start to a league season in 40 years and Steven Gerrard has given a damning assessment of their squad

Steven Gerrard has identified seven Manchester United players who simply aren't good enough in a brutal assessment of the squad.

United are 16th in the Premier League following their 3-0 thrashing by Bournemouth on Sunday. They have collected just seven points from their opening eight matches, recording United's worst start to a league season since 1986/87.

Their miserable form, which has brought just two wins in 12 matches across all competitions this season, could spell the end for manager Michael Carrick. The former midfielder survived crisis talks on Monday, but United chiefs are discussing potential replacements.

While Carrick is likely to be the one who suffers the consequences, he has been badly let down by his players. United spent £155million in the summer transfer window, but their squad has already been shown up and Gerrard singled out six for criticism.

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"If you go through the squad, the back four. Harry Maguire’s had a really good career, Luke Shaw, I played with Luke (with England), he was top in his day," Gerrard said on The Overlap Daily. "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."

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Turning his attention to the summer arrivals, Gerrard added: "You look at the midfield, they signed a player from Chelsea, £50million, [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, £70million. 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."

Gerrard then added: "Nothing coming from the left side, nothing at all. You look at the forwards, [Bryan] Mbeumo, good player. Probably one of the shining lights of this season.

"Cunha’s dropped. So what’s he doing? Is he not training right? Is he one of the toxic players? They’ve just signed him recently. Why is a Brazil international not starting? So, he’s not doing something right. He’s part of the problem as well. [Benjamin] Sesko injured at the moment. Not good enough. They’ve just got problems all over the place."

United's only two wins of the season have come against newly-promoted Ipswich and Champions League debutants Sabah. Their thrashings by Como and Bournemouth last week highlighted their weaknesses and could see Carrick sacked.

Former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, ex-Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann and former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte are all on the club's shortlist, while there is also admiration for Aston Villa's Unai Emery and Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler, although neither are understood to be interested in switching jobs.