Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka: "It is going to be a tough game, especially when Crystal Palace are not in a good way. They have very good forwards, and they will be doing everything to add points.

"In one or two weeks, everything can change so we have to forget the past and focus on the next game."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

While Boro haven't lost since March.... 

Avoid defeat and they'll be unbeaten in their opening four matches of a top-flight season for the first time since 1976-77.  

By the way - Palace are 111 years old today... Good omen?

The 21-year-old Belgian forward joined Palace's development squad on a one-year deal on deadline day. Brother of Christian, he's on the bench today.

We asked supporters of Premier League and Scottish Premiership clubs to use BBC Sport's team selector to tell us whether they were satisfied with their squad, via a simple tick or cross for each position.

The results are in.

Six positions in the Boro XI were given the thumbs up by upwards of 90% of fans, the joint most.

Palace's squad was one of the most split, with some positions above 90% but others much lower. The areas for concern were left-back (55%) and both central midfield slots at about 60%.

Image source, BBC Sport

Alistair Mann
MOTD commentator

"While Middlesbrough's return to the big time after a seven-year absence has so far been serene, Crystal Palace's opening month of the new campaign has been a great deal more fraught, compounded still further by fresh injuries to Yohan Cabaye and new signing Loic Remy.

"Though it's foolish to judge anything by just three matches, looking back further at the results of the two clubs creates a more illuminating picture; Boro haven't lost since March, while the Eagles have picked up a paltry 12 points this calendar year, winning just two league games in the process.

"A third victory of 2016 can't come soon enough for Alan Pardew's side, whose 90th-minute equaliser against Bournemouth last time out spared them the ignominy of a pointless August."

KearneyDili: Who cares about the Manchester derby when Boro are playing. Watching keenly from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste. 

Anybody beat this? Roseberry Topping does not count.

Image source, Google

Mark Lawrenson
Former Republic of Ireland & Liverpool defender

Middlesbrough are unbeaten, but this is a game they will expect to win and I think they will find it difficult.

Crystal Palace have only picked up one point so far but they have made some good signings and, when I look at them, I think they will get better.

Prediction: 0-2

Lawro's full predictions v Dave Bautista

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

A transfer that you may have missed - coming as it did after the close of the window - was Crystal Palace landing former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a contract until the end of the season.

Flamini, 32, left the Gunners this summer having made 246 appearances over two spells and winning three FA Cups.

The Frenchman, who also won the Serie A title in 2011 during five years at AC Milan, is Palace's fifth permanent signing of the summer.

Meanwhile, loan signing Loic Remy has been ruled out for a number of weeks with an ankle injury.

Image source, PA

Three changes for Boro from the team that drew 0-0 at West Brom before the international break. Goalkeeper Victor Valdes comes in for Brad Guzan, left-back George Friend returns from injury to replace Emilio Nsue and Danish winger Viktor Fischer is in for Gaston Ramirez. 

New signings Adama Traore and Calum Chambers are on the bench.

Boro XI: Valdes, Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Forshaw, Clayton, Stuani, Downing, Fischer, Negredo. 

Subs: Rhodes, Guzan, De Roon, Ramirez, Nsue, Chambers, Traore.

Image source, .

Crystal Palace make three changes from the team that drew 1-1 at home to Bournemouth for their only point of the season so far. Martin Kelly comes in for Pape Souare, Joe Ledley replaces the injured Yohan Cabaye, and Wilfried Zaha comes in for Connor Wickham.

New boys Mathieu Flamini and Jonathan Benteke - brother of starter Christian - are subs.  

Crystal Palace XI: Mandanda, Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward, McArthur, Ledley, Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend, Christian Benteke. 

Subs: Flamini, Tomkins, Hennessey, Lee, Fryers, Jonathan Benteke, Dreher.

Image source, .

Hello there, welcome. 

It's been a pretty decent return to the Premier League for Middlesbrough. So far. Unbeaten in their three games, will they be able to continue this run against a Palace side who've been struggling to show their best? What'll we see from Alan Pardew's men today?

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Rex Features