HARRY Redknapp reckons Patrik Berger's best years are ahead of him.

Midfielder Berger plays against his former Liverpool teammates at Fratton Park tomorrow for the first time since signing for Pompey on a free transfer in the summer.

And Redknapp, whose son Jamie helped persuade Poole based Berger to make the move south, believes that the 29-year-old can be better for Pompey than he ever was during his injury-plagued seven years at Anfield. Redknapp said: "Patrik is as good as any other left-sided player in the Premiership and if he stays fit he can have the best spell of his career with us.

"He's still only 29 and is as fit as a fiddle, he's in great shape and is going well.

"He's a family man, he lives two minutes from my house in Poole and loves walking his dog down there.

"He's very settled, he's got the experience of winning the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and reaching the Euro 96 final with the Czech Republic - and I've been delighted with him so far."

Alexei Smertin (knee) is Redknapp's only injury worry, while Michael Owen could return for Liverpool after recovering from the shin injury that ruled him out of England's Euro 2004 clash in Turkey.

Redknapp added: "Liverpool have got quality throughout their team but we've got nothing to fear - no one's outplayed us so far this season."