Liverpool v Crystal Palace Kick-off 8.0Gerard Houllier, who has Michael Owen and Dietmar Hamann back in his starting line-up, is predicting his much maligned outfit will rise above the catalogue of troubles and problems that have dogged their season.

The season has been beset with the loss of form of Owen, Emile Heskey, Jerzy Dudek and even Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise. The latest body blow is a three-match ban for Steven Gerrard that starts with the Palace game, and which Houllier condemned in scathing terms.

"It's been a season of overcoming situations we were not expecting. It's been a good test of our nerves and our character and we have shown in games the mental stamina and temperament to overcome problems."

With Vladimir Smicer and Steven Gerrard suspended, Houllier sees the return of Michael Owen - rested at West Ham - and Dieter Hamann as crucial.

"Michael Owen is starting, definitely, he knows that. It was just a question of keeping him fresh.

"Didi played 10 minutes against West Ham and that was a message to him. For the last three months of the competitions, be they cup or league, you want to have your best players fit and ready to play. So it's good to have people back.

"But the good thing is that in Steven's absence, Didi Hamann should be able to play."

Crystal Palace manager Trevor Francis will hand French goalkeeper Cedric Berthelin the biggest test of his career after dropping first-choice goalkeeper Alex Kolinko. The Latvian handed in his notice last week, refusing to play in the defeat at Leicester on Saturday.

Francis said: "I don't have any worries about Cedric. I had to throw him in against Leicester and he didn't let me down. He won't be fazed by this."

Palace earned a 0-0 draw in the original tie at Selhurst Park, but will be without captain Curtis Fleming for the replay with a knee injury.