Man United legend Paul Scholes believes the club needs to overhaul its defence after claiming they cannot compete for the Premier League title with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez at centre-back.

The Red Devils have endured a slow start to the Premier League season, winning one of their opening six matches of the campaign.

Michael Carrick's side are 13th in the league following Saturday's 1-1 draw against Tottenham, leaving them 12 points adrift of leaders Man City.

Man United had looked poised for a second victory of the season after leading 10-man Tottenham 1-0 but the visitors, who began the day bottom of the table, levelled in stoppage time through a Dominic Solanke header.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes highlighted Lisandro Martinez's role in Tottenham's equaliser by stressing that the centre-back had been 'bullied' by Solanke in a physical duel.

Scholes expressed concerns that Man United's defence has been overlooked in recent years regarding recruitment, with Martinez and Harry Maguire still lining up for the Red Devils.

‘Tottenham were bottom of the league ahead of the game on Saturday and they absolutely run all over Manchester United,' Scholes said.

‘We talk a lot about recruitment, don’t we? The idea is to make your team better and someone like Elliot Anderson would make them better, but I’m not sure the players they brought in make them better.

‘I actually think they’re alright in the forward areas but look at the centre-halves, that’s an area of the pitch that hasn’t been addressed for a few years.

‘We’ve had the same centre-halves now for two or three years and we know you’re not going to be successful with them. You’re never, ever going to win the Premier League with them.

‘The goal on Saturday was a prime example – we know Lisandro Martinez is a good footballer but for your centre-half to be bullied like that, that was purely physical.

'Martinez, it is criminal, how he let them score that goal is beyond belief.

‘Manchester United need a new back-four, they need a new back-four.’

The Red Devils' backline will be put to the test on Tuesday when they face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Atletico are currently second in La Liga after winning six of their opening eight matches of the campaign.

Man United will be without left back Luke Shaw and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.

Shaw’s second injury already this season is particularly painful given that United neglected to sign cover at left back in the summer. 

The two players who replaced him for three games in September – Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui – are also out of action at the moment so right back Diogo Dalot and young Harry Amass are Carrick’s options.