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Harry Redknapp took an intensive 90-minute crash course on the size and shape of the task awaiting him as Spurs manager during at The Emirates.

Redknapp's touchline demeanour was a mixture of delight and disbelief as Arsenal's apparent stroll to victory was rudely interrupted by superb last-minute strike and a chaotic levelller from Aaron Lennon in the third minute of injury time.

It gave Redknapp's new charges a point that barely looked possible for most of a game in which Arsenal dominated, but displayed a careless streak that always kept Spurs interested.

Spurs, understandably given the finale, celebrated as if they had won - but when the elation dies down, will have learned much about what needs to be done at White Hart Lane.

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Rafael Benitez had only one serious alarm as Liverpool recorded a landmark victory at Chelsea - and it did not come during 90 minutes that confirmed his team as serious title contenders.

It was an alarm of the smoke variety and interrupted Benitez's post-match inquest on how in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

The noise may have temporarily drowned out Liverpool's manager, but it was of no consequence. on the toughest title territory of them all.

Benitez simply said: "No panic."

And in doing so he was copying a mantra Liverpool had followed to the letter to frustrate the life out of Chelsea.

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Tottenham have gone out with the new and in with the old to restore credibility at White Hart Lane and save a season in danger of meltdown.

Coach Juande Ramos and sporting director Damien Comolli, supposedly the modern model of the managerial structure, have gone and .

Chairman Daniel Levy was in a desperate situation but he has not resorted to a desperate measure in giving 61-year-old Redknapp a final crack at the big time.

In fact, by dispensing with a theory much loved by football's modernisers and purists and appointing a man steeped in traditional methods, he may have made an inspired choice.

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Liverpool fans have seen vital signs that this could actually be the season when a serious Premier League title challenge materialises out of Anfield.

Rafael Benitez has what is widely accepted to be the strongest squad he has assembled since arriving at Anfield from Valencia in 2004.

This increased strength is augmented by the presence of two genuine world-class match winners in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

And, perhaps more importantly, Liverpool are demonstrating a grinding resilience that is enabling them to get wins from games they may have drawn - or even lost - in previous seasons.

Middlesbrough. Manchester United. Marseille. Manchester City. Wigan Athletic. All teams beaten despite taking the lead.

So far so good. But if there is a game that will enable us to deliver a more defining verdict on the seriousness of Liverpool's title aspirations, it comes at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

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is, by any other name, a trial to discover if he is still fit for purpose as an England player.

AC Milan cannot lose because they get a player who is a consummate professional and will be fiercely driven by a revived ambition to play in a fourth World Cup.

cannot lose because their prize asset can polish his craft and keep fit on very public display in one of the toughest leagues in the world.

And England coach Fabio Capello cannot lose because Beckham is removed from the lucrative comfort zone of Major League Soccer and Los Angeles Galaxy and placed in a hugely competitive environment that will deliver a definitive verdict on the state of his game.

In fact, the only part of this footballing equation with anything to lose is Beckham himself.

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Fabio Capello has done many things to be admired in - winning his first four World Cup qualifiers being chief among them.

The Italian's other major achievement is that he looks like he might have finally pointed Wayne Rooney on the path to true fulfillment at international level.

Rooney has been the glorious, untamed talent England has waited to build a team around since he just before making his move from Everton to Manchester United.

And with five goals in his last three games for England, the signs are that all Rooney's promise is finally threatening to realise its true potential.

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A victory from nowhere against opposition with plenty of previous for beating England - inspired by a hat-trick from a player with the world at his feet.

The last great false dawn of English football was that famous under the guidance of Sven-Goran Eriksson and inspired by Michael Owen's treble in September 2001.

Fast forward seven years to Zagreb and England are beating Croatia, the team that ensured they spent last summer at home instead of Euro 2008, 4-1 with Theo Walcott announcing his arrival on the world stage by repeating Owen's feat.

I was at both of those games and saw how the rampant optimism of Munich became the disappointments of , and under Eriksson.

So can Fabio Capello do things differently and transform an unexpected victory into tangible success?

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Juande Ramos wandered across White Hart Lane's deserted car park with a companion's arm draped consolingly around his shoulder - a man who looked resigned even if he insisted he was not resigning.

An hour earlier a small group of fans gathered on Bill Nicholson Way and ordered Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to vacate the premises, a token protest that dispersed as quickly as this season's optimism as .

In the background we were brushing up on our history. It was the worst Spurs start since - the year the Titanic went down, the year Scott mounted a doomed mission to the South Pole.

As omens go they are not good. Take your pick, but whichever way you look the reign of Ramos at Spurs is in deep trouble as they prop up the Premier League.

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