NEVILLE SAYS MANCHESTER UNITED MIDFIELD PAIR SHOULD NOT START TOGETHER

Gary Neville said Manchester United's midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo should not continue starting together, speaking on Sky Sports after the club drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. The former Manchester United defender said he had "seen enough" of the pairing to conclude it lacks the dynamism required at the club. Neville said both players are good individually, but that they do not "knit together" or suit each other in midfield. He said something needed to change in that part of the team.

Manchester United led at Old Trafford through a goal from Bryan Mbeumo in the 71st minute, before Tottenham equalised in stoppage time when Dominic Solanke converted a cross from Sandro Tonali. The draw left United with six points from their opening six Premier League matches this season, a return described as the club's worst start to a league campaign. Tottenham were the better side for large periods of the match despite falling behind. Tielemans had a difficult game and was substituted for Carlos Baleba, a summer signing making his Premier League debut. Mainoo remained on the pitch for the full match.

Neville said Baleba's introduction alongside Mainoo had brought more energy to the United midfield during the closing stages. He said "there certainly has to be something done" in that part of the team, without specifying what changes should follow. Baleba was described as impressive on his debut for the club. Neville stopped short of saying Tielemans or Mainoo should be dropped outright, saying only that the two "don't quite suit each other" alongside one another. The comments add to scrutiny of Manchester United's team selection after a difficult start to the league season.