Spurs pose threat to United's unbeaten run

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have gone undefeated throughout the first half of the league season and the table-toppers can extend that impressive run to 21 matches at White Hart Lane.

Yet Redknapp is convinced United will slip up before the end of the season and he is bullish about fourth-placed Tottenham's chances of becoming the first team to beat Wayne Rooney and company this term.

Although United are unbeaten, they have shown defensive frailties away from Old Trafford which Redknapp believes Spurs midfielders Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale can exploit.

"We're probably better opposition than a lot of teams they've played away from home," Redknapp said. "I feel we have people that can cause them problems for sure.

"We believe in ourselves at home against anybody. I don't think we fear anybody. We have players that Alex would love to have in his team, I am sure.

"They will be worried about how they can contain Gareth Bale, (Aaron) Lennon and how they deal with van der Vaart."

Only a win will do for Tottenham as they try to make up an eight-point gap between themselves and United, so Redknapp is certain to send out an attacking line-up.

Tottenham's dynamic approach should test United's error-prone defence and Ferguson agrees with Redknapp's belief that the leaders have little chance of remaining undefeated.

"There is nothing exceptional in that comment," he said. "Harry is just echoing what I have said all along. There will be a blip. But can you tell him I don't want it to be on Sunday?"

After making an impressive mark in the Champions League, Tottenham are on the verge of becoming a major force and a win against United could be the defining moment that transforms them from pretenders to serious contenders.

Spurs have failed to win any of their last 23 matches against United - a woeful sequence stretching back to 2001 - but Redknapp's current group are a far more formidable outfit than their predecessors.

"It's a game we need to win to close the gap on them. If they beat us they've run away really. You're not going to claw back that title lead on them," Redknapp said.

Regardless of Redknapp's optimism, United will travel to London in confident mood.

Despite struggling to recapture the flamboyant displays that won three successive titles from 2007 to 2009, Ferguson's side have capitalised on Chelsea's miserable run to seize pole position and stay ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal.

Ferguson will welcome back Rooney from the ankle injury that forced him to miss two matches, while Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs will reach 600 league appearances for United if he features.

Giggs may not embark on so many jinking runs through oppostion defences these days, but his composure and craft on the ball have kept him firmly in Ferguson's plans at a time when many of his peers have already retired.

The 37-year-old - the most decorated player in English football history with 11 league titles - attributes his remarkable fitness to regular yoga sessions and Ferguson said: "Ryan is an incredible human being.

"He defies the logic of forwards when he plays at the level he did last Sunday against Liverpool.

"Obviously we know how to manage him. He doesn't play every week but he makes a contribution that lifts the team. He did that in the second half last week.

"His fitness was fantastic. He kept going for the whole 90 minutes. He has been doing that for two decades.

"No other player has ever done that - or is ever likely to. He is quite an amazing man."