Jaap Stam has shown Erik ten Hag what he could bring to Manchester United

Manchester United's trip to Selhurst Park might mark the start of a bright new beginning for the club, but it was a look at the past on Saturday afternoon that also provided a possible solution. He's Dutch. He's bald and he might be the answer to United's problems. No, not incoming manager Erik ten Hag but fan favourite Jaap Stam.

United are looking to sign a new centre-back in the summer transfer window and they have the ideal blueprint for success in the shape of their former stopper.

Signing a defender in the same no-nonsense mould as Stam would greatly enhance their backline this summer, but just as important could be bringing the Treble-winning centre-back back to the club in an official coaching capacity to share his knowledge with a defence which has been shambolic all season.

READ MORE: Manchester United legend XI player ratings vs Liverpool: Dimitar Berbatov classy and Jaap Stam good

United players have been, rightly, accused of lacking passion and commitment this season. The likes of Stam and fellow former defender Patrice Evra certainly didn't lack it at all against the Liverpool legends.

While it might have had the prefix of a 'charity match' it was still, most importantly, United versus Liverpool. Stam made sure Andriy Voronin knew it wouldn't be an easy ride when he left something on him after a challenge for the ball early on.

On the other side, there was another centre-back who embodied everything his club is about. Jamie Carragher played the ultimate pantomime, registering the loudest boos of the match whenever he got on the ball and receiving one of the loudest cheers when his first pass of the match was so under-hit that it rolled harmlessly out of play in his own half.

An enterprising full-back is