London - Harry Redknapp has been Tottenham Hotspur manager less that a week, but already he has inspired them to their first victory of the season, and an astonishing comeback from 4-2 down to draw against Arsenal in the north London derby.

On Saturday he will be hoping for an even bigger surprise as his side face the league leaders Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

It may be bottom against top, but given Spurs' new-found confidence, this is far from a foregone conclusion.

It's going to be a long season, but there was a great atmosphere in that dressing room," Redknapp said.

"I've tried to make them believe in themselves. There's ability in the squad. Bring on Liverpool. We'll give them a good go on Saturday.

"I've not thought about points. I like to see us when we play and pass the ball. We just encourage them to play."

Liverpool, meanwhile, followed up Sunday's 1-0 win at Chelsea with another 1-0 win over Portmsouth on Wednesday, despite a number of personnel changes.

"After the victory against Chelsea it was very important to get these three points, and to show that we can change four or five players and still win matches," he said.

"The message for the squad and everyone watching us is that we can change players and still maintain our form."

Having fallen out of the top four with Wednesday's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, Hull face another severe test as they travel to Manchester United.

Their manager Phil Brown has insisted he is not bothered "if the bubble bursts", saying "we will just blow another one", but it would be some achievement were they to manage that immediately.

Arsenal, called "naïve" for their defending in the north London derby by their manager Arsene Wenger, travel to Stoke, and their diminutive back four could be troubled by Rory Delap's long throws.

The Republic of Ireland international was sowing confusion again Wednesday, setting up the winner against Sunderland.

Sunderland themselves, after what manager Roy Keane termed their "worst performance of the season", go to Chelsea, desperately seeking the sort of consistency that might establish them as the upper mid-table team they see themselves as.

Tony Adams faces his first home game in charge of Portsmouth as they host a struggling Wigan Athletic, while West Ham, after four successive defeats face a difficult trip to Middlesbrough. (dpa)