English trio on brink of Europa last-32 spots

LONDON – Premier League trio Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle will be aiming to secure passage to the Europa League knockout stages with a game in hand on Thursday.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Group stageTodayMakhachkala    vs    UdineseRubin Kazan    vs    InterSparta Praha    vs    LyonLazio    vs    TottenhamHannover 96    vs    FC TwenteMetalist    vs    LeverkusenLiverpool    vs    Young BoysNewcastle    vs    MarítimoAtlético    vs    H. Tel-AvivMarseille    vs    Fenerbahçe Club Brugge    vs    BordeauxAIKAIK    vs    NapoliLONDON – Premier League trio Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle will be aiming to secure passage to the Europa League knockout stages with a game in hand on Thursday.While the English clubs have had modest starts to their domestic campaign and are all in unfamiliar mid-table positions, their fortunes have been brighter in continental action as they close in on the last-32.Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has finally put the Anfield giants on the right track after a disastrous start to the season and a win at home against Swiss hopefuls Young Boys will guarantee the club their ongoing quest for a first European trophy since their famous Champions League win over AC Milan in 2005.Tottenham face a sterner test of their pedigree as they travel to the Olympic stadium in Rome and a tie against unbeaten Lazio.A win in the Italian capital and failure for Slovenian club Maribor to beat Panathinaikos in Athens will also put under-pressure manager Andre Villa-Boas and his North London side into the next round.Newcastle United who won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup back in 1969 before the competition became the Uefa Cup in 1971 and currently the Europa League, have a chance to revive their form at St. James’ Park where they have lost consecutive league matches against West Ham and Swansea.Agencies