Redknapp wary of lurking Liverpool

Harry Redknapp warned his in-form Tottenham side that Liverpool could yet sneak up on them and snatch the crucial final Champions League spot.

The Spurs boss reckons the Reds’ easier run-in could see them overtake his team, despite Liverpool being seven points behind in the race to finish fourth in the English Premier League.

Tottenham are in the all-important fourth place, but must play the top three – Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal – in their remaining seven games, as well as Manchester City, who are breathing down their necks in a four-way fight.

“Aston Villa have got it all to do, but I still look at Liverpool,” Redknapp said.

“They’ve got such a fantastic run-in – apart from Chelsea at home – and you can’t see them dropping too many points. They’re capable of winning six games. I know they haven’t been playing that great, but you never know.

“The teams at the bottom are scrapping for points as well.

“We’re in good form. We’ve been on a terrific run and five league wins in a row has made a massive difference, it’s kept us right in the race for fourth spot.”

Spurs beat rock-bottom Portsmouth 2-0 at White Hart Lane on Saturday, thanks to goals from two former Pompey stars.

England striker Peter Crouch headed the first in the 27th minute, with Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar flicking in the second in the 41st.

Portsmouth are now a whisker away from relegation and to make matters worse, goalkeeper David James, defender Hermann Hreidarsson and striker Danny Webber were injured, leaving the Blues with just 10 fit first-team squad players.

The game served as a warm-up for a much bigger clash between the two sides in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 11.

“There’ll be a lot of different players. I’m sure they’ll have plenty of players getting back for that game and hopefully we’ll have a few too,” Redknapp said.

“Jermain Defoe will be fit and I wouldn’t write Aaron Lennon off. He’s sprinting flat out, almost. I think he’s a possibility.”

Both Redknapp and Portsmouth boss Avram Grant agreed that Saturday’s league game would have no bearing on the cup match.

“In the semi-final, everybody will play to be in the final so it will be a different game,” Grant said.

Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara has starred while on loan this season at Portsmouth and given their injury crisis, Grant wants the north London side to lift the customary ban on a player featuring against his primary club.

“With a club like Portsmouth you don’t get to a semi-final very often,” the Israeli said.

“We need to let the players that did well for us to be there but it’s in the hands of Tottenham.”

However, Redknapp said it was highly unlikely that the Spurs board would agree.

“It’s not going to help him. Portsmouth aren’t going to be able to keep him at the end of the season. He’s coming back here for sure,” the Londoner said.

“It’s a shame for Jamie but I’m sure there’s more semi-finals to come for him somewhere along the line.”

In the league, Portsmouth, having had nine points deducted for entering administration, are 14 points from safety with 18 points still available.

Grant admitted he was now facing having to deploy academy players as Portsmouth soldier on against the odds.

“We’ve not had much luck,” the former Chelsea boss said. “We are trying to do everything not to give up, to keep fighting. We’re trying to be professional, to keep the spirit of the game and to play with pride.”