Manchester United strikers Marcus Rashford (left) and Martial are aged just 18 and 20 respectively

Manchester United should not be having to continually rely on their core of young players for results, according to Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness.

Louis van Gaal's side beat Everton 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon to close the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City to just a single point with only seven games of the season left.

Forward Anthony Martial scored the home team's winner nine minutes after half-time, the Frenchman's eighth Premier League goal of the season making him their top scorer.

Anthony Martial celebrates after scoring Man Utd's winner against Old Trafford

However, United cannot keep asking their young stars to win them games, said the Scot.

This is Man United relying on a 23-year-old Lingard, a 20-year-old Martial and an 18-year-old Rashford Graeme Souness

"They weren't convincing and it wasn't particularly enjoyable for nearly 70,000 people here," he said.

"This is Man United relying on a 23-year-old Lingard, a 20-year-old Martial and an 18-year-old Rashford.

"This is Man United, one of the biggest football clubs in the world, and that's who they are asking time and time again to get them out of a hole.

United are too reliant on their young players, says Graeme Souness

"Martial is Man United's top goalscorer with eight goals. This is one of the top four teams in the world and they are relying on someone to get well into double figures.

"We are talking about a 20-year-old scoring eight goals as their top goalscorer. That's how far they have come back. They have got to get three or four proper ones in at the end of the season."

Despite United's lacklustre display against Everton, it is results and not performances that matter most as the club look to seal a place in next season's Champions League, according to Souness.

"It's difficult, but they've ground out a result and I think they would say in the dressing room that it isn't really important how they are playing right now, which is just as well because it's been like that for most of the season," he said.

Anthony Martial netted Manchester United's 1000th home Premier League goal in their 1-0 win over Everton Anthony Martial netted Manchester United's 1000th home Premier League goal in their 1-0 win over Everton

"It's about digging results out and they are doing that. It is paramount they end up in the Champions League, especially for the manager."