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And now the pair are hoping that they can play their way back into Sven Goran Eriksson's plans for the World Cup finals. Barmby has not kicked a ball since picking up an ankle injury against Dynamo Kiev in October, and he knows he must swiftly make up for lost time.
Ironically, that could persuade him to follow the same route as Redknapp, who looks certain to leave Liverpool in the summer for Tottenham.
Even before his injury, Barmby had slipped down the pecking order at Anfield, with Vladimir Smicer, Danny Murphy and Patrik Berger all ahead of him for wide midfield places.
If Liverpool also sign West Ham's Trevor Sinclair, then Barmby will have a real fight on his hands to play the games which will allow him to go to Japan for the finals in June.
The utility midfielder started in England's 5-1 win over Germany in Munich and also played in the victory over Albania a few days later.
But he knows he must be playing regularly if he is to keep his position wide on the left of the England midfield, especially with increased competition from Steve McManaman, Kieron Dyer and Sinclair.
Tottenham have shown a strong interest in Barmby in the past and if it becomes apparent that he is not getting regular games on his return, then they are likely to bid around £6million to bring him back to his first professional club.
Sunderland would also be in the race for him.
Redknapp has been out for two months with a thigh strain since producing a man-of-the-match per-formance for Liverpool at Charlton in November.
And it seems that he will have to move to reignite his career, which has been dogged by injury.
Anfield assistant boss Phil Thompson said: "Both these players will give us an extra dimension to our game, and it's great to have the pair of them back.
"It was their first full day of training with the first team and they are hoping to be able o play their first match in a week or so."
Gregory Vignal also returned yesterday, playing for the reserves against Leeds in his first game since breaking a foot against Grimsby.