Redknapp rules Tottenham out of Premier League title race

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has ruled Tottenham out of the title race - despite the Lilywhites currently sitting level with Manchester United and Arsenal.

HARRY Redknapp admits that he has already given up on chasing the league crown – even though Tottenham currently sit level on points with title hopefuls Manchester United and Arsenal.

The Spurs boss repeatedly talked up the Lilywhites’ chances of competing for the championship during pre-season.

However, just eight games into the league campaign, Redknapp is distancing himself from those comments, and refocusing his side’s sights on a second successive top-four finish.

Asked about his side’s title credentials, Redknapp replied: “It’s hard. I think we’ve found balancing the Champions League with the Premier League difficult. It’s a new experience.

“Listen, if we can get anywhere near doing what we did last year we’ll be delighted again. That’s got to be our aim, to try to get another top-four finish. That’s the goal again. Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal – I think the champions will come from them.”

Spurs return from last night’s glamorous Champions League clash at the San Siro to find Everton lying in wait ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have just two and a half days to recover before facing the Toffees while Arsenal – who played at home on Tuesday night – have four whole days off before visiting Manchester City on Sunday.

With City, Spurs and the Gunners all sitting within three points ahead of kick-off, there is all to play for in N17 and in Manchester this weekend.

Redknapp believes that City will be Tottenham’s biggest rivals for a Champions League spot again this season.

But the Spurs boss is refusing to rule Everton and Liverpool out of the race, despite watching the Merseyside rivals battling each other at the wrong end of the table on Sunday.

“Ourselves and Man City are going to be right there again, as we were last year,” said Redknapp. “I think Aston Villa look strong, I still think Liverpool will put a run together, and Everton will as well.

“Everton and Liverpool are good teams, they’re great clubs with good managers and it’s only a matter of time before they start climbing the table.

“Everton did it last year. They had a bad start last season and ended up just missing out [on Europe]. They had a horrific run of injuries and came on strongly at the end, and David Moyes will get them right up there again.

“They’ll be pushing for the European places again for sure, and so will Liverpool.”