Harry Redknapp plans dash from court to Anfield

Harry Redknapp arrives at Southwark Crown Court (PA)

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is planning to make a quick dash from London to Liverpool by plane on Monday night after it was confirmed that his trial for tax evasion will run in to next week.

Redknapp has been absent from training for the last week and a half as he has been contesting two charges of cheating the public revenue at Southwark Crown Court.

The Spurs boss, who denies both charges, has still managed to make it to all three of his team's games - against Watford, Wolves, and West Brom - during that time.

He has now been presented with a more difficult challenge to be in the dugout for the club's next match at Anfield on Monday evening, however. It had been expected that the case would be finished by today, but yesterday it was announced that it will run until Tuesday.

That means Redknapp will have to make the 180-mile trip to Anfield from the court, in south London, after Monday's proceedings have come to an end, which is expected to be at around 4.30pm.

The 64-year-old would miss the 8pm kick-off if he made the journey by road as it would take a minimum of four hours in rush hour traffic through the busy streets of London, and up the M1, the M6 and the M62.

No plans have been confirmed or announced, but it is understood that Redknapp is considering chartering a plane to take him to the game, which should leave him enough time to take his place in the dugout and give his usual pre-match team-talk.

It is understood that he will then return to London with the team via plane after the match.

The game is hugely important for the London club as they look to keep up the pressure on joint leaders Manchester United and Manchester City with a win against Kenny Dalglish's men, who currently sit sixth in the Barclays Premier League, 11 points adrift of Tottenham.

PA