Premier League duo Liverpool and Tottenham head a list of nine clubs vying for the five remaining berths in the last 32 of the Europa League as the group stage reaches its climax this evening.
Tottenham must simply avoid defeat at home to Group J foes Panathinaikos to advance, while victory at Udinese would assure Liverpool’s progression from Group A, although a draw would suffice should Young Boys fail to beat already-qualified Anzhi Makhachkala.
Tottenham’s inconsistent form this term has taken a sharp upwards turn lately with three straight league wins propelling them back into the top four, and striker Jermain Defoe finding the back of the net with regularity in recent weeks.
“We want to get through to the knockout stage and as we’ve said all along, we want to do something special this season. Things are going well at the moment and we’ve just got to keep it going,” said the England forward.
The north Londoners are second with seven points from five matches and trail leaders and qualified Lazio by two points.
A Spurs’ victory could conceivably see Andre Villas-Boas’s side pip the Italians to top spot, but defeat would end their European dreams with Panathinaikos going through at their expense.
Tottenham will also be without Gareth Bale after the Welsh winger injured his hamstring in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Fulham.
An 88th-minute strike from Young Boys defender Elsad Zverotic at Anfield last time out kept the Swiss outfit’s qualification hopes alive, denying Liverpool from clinching a place in the knockout phase in the process.
Brendan Rodgers’s men travel to eliminated Udinese, knowing that three points would erase the pain of Zverotic’s late equaliser and put them through to the next stage of the tournament.
The five-time Euro champions are going through a transitional period following the appointment of Rodgers in the close-season and have experienced their fair share of growing pains.
Luis Suarez, who has shouldered much of the responsibility in attack, is likely to play a prominent role today after incurring a one-match domestic suspension following his fifth caution in the league that will rule him out of Sunday’s trip to West Ham.
“I’m not going to lose sleep over it, and at least it means he will more than likely start now against Udinese in the Europa League. We’ll be strong when we get over there,” said Rodgers about the Uruguayan’s impending absence.
Liverpool control their own destiny, but a second defeat to Udinese – the Serie A won 3-2 at Anfield in October – would spell the end of the road for the Reds, with Young Boys taking their place in the last 32.
Elsewhere, Steaua Bucharest, Stuttgart and FC Copenhagen all still harbour hopes of progressing from Group E.
Steaua take Copenhagen needing to avoid defeat in order to advance, although a loss by a one-goal margin – other than 1-0 – would also put them through, while Copenhagen must win to stand any chance of staying alive.
Stuttgart can secure their ticket to the next round by beating Norwegian side Molde.
Meanwhile, Basel and Videoton will vie for the final qualification spot in Group G.
Videoton must beat bottom side Sporting Lisbon and hope Swiss title-holders Basel succumb to leaders Genk if they are to progress.
Today’s fixtures
Group A – 19.00: Udinese vs Liverpool; Young Boys vs Anzhi.
Standings: Anzhi 10; Liverpool, Young Boys 7; Udinese 4.
Group B – 19.00: Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Academica; Vik. Plzen vs Atletico Madrid.
Standings: Atletico Madrid 12; Vik. Plzen 10; Academica 5; Hapoel Tel Aviv 1.
Group C – 19.00: Limassol vs Marseille; Fenerbahce vs Borussia M’gladbach.
Standings: Fenerbahce 13; Borussia M’gladbach 8; Marseille 5; Limassol 1.
Group D – 19.00: Bordeaux vs Newcastle; Maritimo vs Bruges.
Standings: Bordeaux 10; New-castle United 9; Bruges 4; Maritimo 3.
Group E – 19.00: FC Copen-hagen vs Steaua Bucharest; Stuttgart vs Molde.
Standings: Steaua Bucharest 10; Stuttgart 8; FC Copenhagen 7; Molde 3.
Group F – 19.00: Dnipro vs AIK Stockholm; Napoli vs PSV Eind-hoven.
Standings: Dnipro 12; Napoli 9; AIK Stockholm, PSV 4.
Group G – 21.05: Genk vs Basel; Sporting Lisbon vs Videoton.
Standings: Genk 11; Basel 8; Videoton 6; Sporting 2.
Group H – 21.05: Inter vs FK Neftchi; Partizan Belgrade vs Rubin Kazan.
Standings: Rubin Kazan 13; Inter 10; FK Neftchi, Partizan Belgrade 2.
Group I – 21.05: A. Bilbao vs Sparta Prague; Olympique Lyon vs I.K. Shmona.
Standings: Olympique Lyon 13; Sparta Prague 8; A. Bilbao 4; I.K. Shmona 2.
Group J – 21.05: Maribor vs Lazio; Tottenham Hotspur vs Panathinaikos.
Standings: Lazio 9; Tottenham 7; Panathinaikos 5; Maribor 4.
Group K – 21.05: B. Leverkusen vs Rosenborg; Rapid Vienna vs M. Kharkiv.
Standings: M. Kharkiv 13; B. Leverkusen 10; Rosenborg 6; Rapid Vienna 0.
Group L – 21.05: FC Twente vs Helsingborg; Levante vs Hanover.
Standings: Hanover 11; Levante 10; FC Twente 4; Helsingborg 1.