Five-times European champions Liverpool survived a late scare to move into the last 32 of the Europa League yesterday with a 1-0 win over Udinese and the Premier League club were joined by Tottenham, Steaua Bucharest and VfB Stuttgart.

Midfielder Jordan Henderson’s first strike of the season after 23 minutes helped Liverpool leapfrog Group A leaders Anzhi Makhachkala, though Antonio Di Natale blazed a good chance over the bar from inside the area with the last kick of the game.

Udinese played the last 11 minutes with 10 men after Giovanni Pasquale’s dismissal and Di Natale could have eliminated Liverpool altogether as Anzhi lost 3-1 at Young Boys in Berne.

All three sides were left on 10 points but the Russians’ better record over the Swiss club in a three-way head-to-head took them into the knockout stages.

Late strikes eased a tense atmosphere at White Hart Lane as Tottenham survived a second-half fightback to beat Panathinaikos and progress to the knockout stages.

Needing just a draw to progress, Spurs had an air of complacency about them in the opening period, which Panathinaikos controlled for large parts.

Emmanuel Adebayor put Tottenham ahead just before the half hour, but the Greeks, who have never won in Britain, played the better football and deservedly equalised through Zeca just after the restart.

Panathinaikos, knowing victory was their only means of qualifying for the knockout stages, threw everything at Tottenham and looked the more likely to score before Clint Dempsey – whose shot went in after hitting both the bar and keeper Orestis Karnezis – and Jermain Defoe added a third.

First Dempsey’s header home Kyle Walker’s cross made it 2-1 and Defoe killed the game off with his 13th goal of the season with seven minutes left.

Steaua’s 10 men held Copenhagen 1-1 to progress as Group E winners on 11 points with Stuttgart in second on eight and level with the Danes but the Germans progressed owing to a better head-to-head record.

Steaua were down to 10 men in the 49th minute when Cristian Tanase was sent off but led through Raul Rusescu after 72 minutes. Copenhagen capitalised on their advantage late on but it was too late.

Genk and Basel played out a dire goalless draw as the pair progressed to the Europa League knockout stage.

The two sides knew a draw would suit them both and there were precious few moments of excitement in a painfully tedious Group G clash.

The Belgians, already through, topped the pool and Basel got the point they needed to seal second spot ahead of Hungarian side Videoton, whose meeting with Sporting Lisbon was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Holders Atletico Madrid, already assured of last-32 action, lost 1-0 to Viktoria Plzen to finish second by a point in Group B behind the Czechs on 13.

Girondins Bordeaux won the battle for top spot over Newcastle United in Group D, the French club running out 2-0 victors to reach 13 points with the English side on nine.

In Group C, Fenerbahce had already assured top spot ahead of Borussia Moenchengladbach while in Group F Ukraine’s Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk had secured first place with Napoli in second.

Europa League results

Group A – Udinese Vs Liverpool 0-1; Young Boys Vs Anzhi 3-1.

Standings: Liverpool (Q), Anzhi (Q), Young Boys10; Udinese 4.

Group B – Hapoel Tel Aviv Vs Academica 2-0; Vik. Plzen Vs Atletico Madrid 1-0.

Standings: V. Plzen (Q) 13; Atletico Madrid (Q) 12; Academica 5; Hapoel Tel Aviv 4.

Group C – Limassol Vs Marseille 3-0; Fenerbahce Vs Borussia M’Gladbach 0-3.

Standings: Fenerbahce (Q) 13; Borussia M’Gladbach (Q) 11; Marseille 5; Limassol 4.

Group D – Bordeaux Vs Newcastle 2-0; Maritimo Vs Bruges 2-1.

Standings: Bordeaux (Q) 13; Newcastle (Q) 9; Maritimo 6; Bruges 4.

Group E – Fc Copen-Hagen Vs S. Bucharest 1-1; Stuttgart Vs Molde 0-1.

Standings: S. Bucharest (Q) 11; Stuttgart (Q), Fc Copenhagen 8; Molde 6.

Group F – Dnipro Vs Aik 4-0; Napoli Vs Psv 1-3.

Standings: Dnipro (Q) 15; Napoli (Q) 9; Psv 7; Aik Stockholm 4.

Group G – Genk Vs Basel 0-0; Sporting Lisbon Vs Videoton Pp.

Standings: Genk (Q) 12; Basel (Q) 9; Videoton 6; Sporting 2.

Group H – Inter Vs Fk Neftchi 2-2; Partizan Belgrade Vs Rubin Kazan 1-1.

Standings: Rubin Kazan (Q) 14; Inter (Q) 11; Fk Neftchi, Partizan Belgrade 3.

Group I – A. Bilbao Vs Sparta Prague 0-0; Olympique Lyon Vs H.K. Shmona 2-0.

Standings: Olympique Lyon (Q) 16; Sparta Prague (Q) 9; A. Bilbao 5; H.K. Shmona 2.

Group J – Maribor Vs Lazio 1-4; Tottenham Vs Panathinaikos 3-1.

Standings: Lazio (Q) 12; Tottenham (Q) 10; Panathinaikos 5; Maribor 4.

Group K – B. Leverkusen Vs Rosenborg 1-0; Rapid Vienna Vs M. Kharkiv 1-0.

Standings: B. Leverkusen (Q), M. Kharkiv (Q) 13; Rosenborg 6; Rapid Vienna 3.

Group L – Twente Vs Helsingborg 1-3; Levante Vs Hanover 2-2.

Standings: Hanover (Q) 12; Levante (Q) 11; Twente, Helsin-Gborg 4.

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