Erik: This season's game is totally different

The Reds were heavily beaten back in May but applauded by the loyal away support at the end in a touching show of unity through adversity.

Ultimately, the team would rally, end the Premier League season with back-to-back wins and then lift the Emirates FA Cup by overcoming odds-on favourites Manchester City in the final at Wembley.

Any lingering painful memories of that night at Selhurst Park can be erased if the Reds continue the sort of form shown in the last couple of games and Erik feels the squad is in a much better place ahead of the weekend.

There were injury and fitness issues to contend with in the first meeting with Oliver Glasner, following his appointment as Eagles boss, and Ten Hag has revealed the extent of the problems facing him that night.

"Not in particular," the boss replied, when asked if he and the coaching team had learned lessons from last season's game. "We know what will come to us.

"We know it's always tough there, always aggressive there, but we know also the circumstances and you can't compare this.

"We didn't have a fit squad, we even had one or two players that were maybe up to 20 per cent to play, but we had to play them. And, this time, it's totally different, we have now a fit squad. We have, definitely, 18 players who are capable to go into this good challenge for us."

Only one of the starting XI back in May is no longer at the club, former Palace man Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who returned to London by moving to West Ham United in the summer.

Hence, there will be a chance to set the record straight and, of course, players missing that evening and signed in the close season increase the options available to Ten Hag for the 17:30 BST kick-off.

Ex-Red Dean Henderson kept a clean sheet in last term's fixture and is likely to play again this time around, with the Reds out to maintain our free-scoring form of the last week and return north with another three points.

"It was a 4-0, totally deserved, but Saturday will be different," promised Ten Hag. "I don’t compare [situations]. From February onwards, we had to find 11 players to construct a team.

"Now it is 18 and we can pick one."

Erik's XI will be released 75 minutes before kick-off in the United App.