Hamann's return relieves Houllier after Gerrard ban

Gérard Houllier was unable to disguise his anger at the three-match ban handed to Steven Gerrard on Monday but that anger was tempered yesterday by the return from injury of Dietmar Hamann for tonight's FA Cup fourth-round replay against Crystal Palace.

The Liverpool manager was with Gerrard when the Football Association gave the midfielder the ban, which was a result of his tackle on Everton's Gary Naysmith in December, but Houllier is now determined that Liverpool will rise above the problems that have dogged them this season.

"The desire and determination to finish the season well and to win is something I see as reassuring for the future," Houllier said. "Michael Owen will start [tonight], definitely, he knows that. [Resting him for the West Ham match at the weekend] was just a question of keeping him fresh.

"Didi [Hamann] 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.

"We have had to rise above a lot of things we didn't predict, but that's part of the game. It will strengthen the players, it's good sometimes when you go through a difficult period, you see who you can win the war with."

Meanwhile, Trevor Francis is to hand the Frenchman Cedric Berthelin the opportunity to impress at Anfield tonight. The Palace manager has dropped first-choice goalkeeper Alex Kolinko after the Latvian handed in his notice last week, refusing to play in the defeat at Leicester City 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." Berthelin played with Liverpool's El Hadji Diouf at Lens, but joined Palace until the end of the season on New Year's Eve because of a hamstring injury to Kolinko. Francis was fined £1,000 by the FA last year for striking the Latvian, and the 27-year-old's future will now be decided after talks with the club's chairman Simon Jordan.

Palace earned a 0-0 draw in the first tie at Selhurst Park, but will be without their captain Curtis Fleming for the replay because he has a knee injury. Dougie Freedman, who had a hernia problem, and Steve Thomson, who is recovering from a broken leg, are both back in contention, while Kolinko's absence means 17-year-old Lance Cronin is promoted to the bench.

Sunderland are waiting for fitness tests on Phil Babb (groin), Kevin Phillips (foot), and Tore Andre Flo (ankle) as they prepare for their fourth-round replay against Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light. Emerson Thome stands by to replace Babb in central defence and Marcus Stewart is set to return to the starting line-up.

David Bellion has been added to the squad after proving his fitness in the reserves on Monday night after recovering from a heel injury.

Henning Berg, the Blackburn defender, will return to the squad for the first time since October after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. However, Andy Todd is unavailable as he is still suspended while Craig Short is still troubled by a calf injury. Damien Duff and David Dunn are also ruled out.

Steven Reid, the Republic of Ireland international winger, will return from suspension for Millwall's replay against Southampton at The New Den but Millwall will be without captain Stuart Nethercott (groin).

Antti Niemi looks set to continue in goal for Southampton despite being taken off against Manchester United. Niemi left the field seven minutes from full-time after diving at the feet of Ruud van Nistelrooy. But a scan has shown only bruising. Midfielder Rory Delap faces a late fitness test on a calf strain. Agustin Delgado is likely to be missing again with to a knee complaint.