REDKNAPP READY FOR ANFIELD

Jamie Redknapp returns to Anfield as Tottenham captain tomorrow night keen to help his new club put his old one in the shade.

The 30-year-old midfielder made 237 league appearances for Liverpool but it took him 11 years to reach that mark because of a series of injuries before moving to White Hart Lane last summer.

However, in spite of his problems on Merseyside, it is a time Redknapp looks back on with fondness.

He said: "It is a big test for us and a big test for them as well but whatever the case, I'm looking forward to going back there again.

"I still owe Liverpool a lot. At the end, they actually offered me another year's deal but I thought I wouldn't be playing much and took the Spurs option instead.

"I think they respected it because I got a standing ovation when I played there last season and it was quite emotional.''

While at Liverpool, Redknapp first suffered an ankle injury and then a knee ligament problem which required a career-saving operation by celebrated American surgeon Richard Steadman, who helped restore Alan Shearer to full fitness.

He also missed five months of last season for Tottenham with a stress fracture in a foot, sustained just before Christmas.

He became a leading figure on the club's notorious injury list but prays that is all behind him now after a solid pre-season and a bright opening to the campaign, culminating in a man-of-the-match performance as Spurs recovered from a goal down to beat Leeds 2-1 on Saturday.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have so far lost at home to Chelsea and managed only a goalless draw at Aston Villa.

Redknapp said: "We are all aware that this is a big season for us. The squad has changed dramatically from this time last year with a number of players coming and going during the summer.

"As well as the new faces we've got a lot of talented young players like Rohan Ricketts and Tony Gardner coming through. It is an exciting time.

"I felt we definitely deserved something at Birmingham and I'm sure the fans who were there would say the same. Then we showed a lot of effort and desire against Leeds as well.

"We showed a great team spirit and didn't fold when we could have done after they had scored an early goal.''

But Redknapp warns: "Liverpool still have some fantastic players from the time I left and I know the big thing for them is still to win the league. That is certainly what Gerard Houllier wants.

"It's been a difficult start for them, playing Chelsea first, but because of the points they have dropped it means it will be that much more difficult for us. They don't like losing too many games at Anfield.''

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle senses a new confidence in his squad, which has not always been the most harmonious during his two-year reign.

He insisted: "We are going to Liverpool in a very positive mode. The best thing is that I have strikers to rotate - even though we are without Robbie Keane for a period of time through injury. I've not had that luxury before here and it can make all the difference for us, with a match-winner on the bench.''

Hoddle has to decide whether to start with £4million new boy Frederic Kanoute after the Frenchman's spectacular winner as a substitute against Leeds or to stick with £6.25million Helder Postiga and £1.5million Bobby Zamora in partnership.