Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has hit out at Manchester United’s centre-backs after their incompetent second half performance against Spurs on Monday.

The Red Devils were embarrassed in the second half by the North London club, losing 3-0 and finding themselves in the middle of their worst Premier League start since 1992.

Manager Jose Mourinho was known to be desperate to sign a new centre-back this summer, with high profile names such as Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire strongly linked with moves to Old Trafford.

But United failed to sign any of the several defenders they were linked with, and have started the season with the same four candidates in the heart of defence as they ended last season with – conceding 7 goals in their first 3 games.

And Jamie Carragher has revealed he feels sorry for Swede Victor Lindelof, who he insists “should not be playing at this level” after the game against Spurs.

Lindelof was signed by Mourinho last summer and came on in the second half to replace an injured Phil Jones (where have we heard that one before). Carragher was left bemused by the quality of defending that the Swedish international produced, also saying that United’s squad still looks as if it needs a further £200m investment.

“I actually feel a bit sorry for him [Lindelof], he should not be playing at this level,” he said on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

“Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have been playing for a long time, and it [the mistakes] shouldn’t be happening at this level.

“There’s a serious lack of quality, if you’ve spent £400m on a squad. How do you lose 3-0? That’s a team that looks like it still needs £200m spent on it.”