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Journalism of Courage
English clubs put behind their middling league form to run up wins during the midweek Europa League fixtures on Thursday. Liverpool beat Anzhi Makhachkala 1-0 while Newcastle also registered a similar win over Club Brugge. Tottenham managed a last gast draw against NK Maribor.
A second half goal from Stewart Downing ensured Liverpool avoided an unwanted record as the Reds outfit edged Russia’s Anzhi 1-0 at Anfield to bolster their Europa League hopes. Downing’s well taken 53rd-minute strike meant Liverpool avoided two straight European home losses for the first time in their history after their recent hiccup against Italy’s Udinese and they now lead Group A with six points from three matches.
Better still for the Merseysiders,who now lead the Russians and the Italians by two points,Udinese went down to a shock 3-1 loss at unheralded Swiss side Young Boys,throwing away a chance to go top of the section.
Anzhi came to Liverpool boasting former Barcelona and Inter Milan Champions League winner Samuel Eto’o in their ranks but he had a quiet night. Also flying the flag for England are Newcastle,who thanks to a goal from French winger Gabriel Obertan just after the restart for a second straight home win which keeps the Magpies in charge of Group D.
Alan Pardew’s men now lead Bordeaux,already dismissed emphatically at Saint James’ Park,by three points after the Girondins – Obertan’s former club – could only draw at Portugal’s Maritimo. But there was frustration for another English side,Tottenham,who had to settle for a third straight draw in Group J,held 1-1 at Slovenia’s Maribor.
Elsewhere,holders Atletico Madrid thanked goals from Diego Costa and Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu for a third straight Group B triumph over Portugal’s Coimbra. Turkey’s Fenerbache top Group C after a 1-0 success at Cypriot side Limassol.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
English Premier League
Saturday
Arsenal v QPR (7.30 pm)
City v Swansea (10 pm)
Sunday
Everton v Liverpool (7 pm)
Chelsea v Manchester United (9.30 pm)
Spanish La Liga
Saturday
Espanyol v Malaga (7.30 pm)
Rayo Vallecano v Barcelona (1.30 am)
Sunday
Atletico Madrid v Osasuna (11.15 pm)
Mallorca v Real Madrid (1 am)
Italian Serie A
Saturday
AC Milan v Genoa (12.15 am)
Sunday
Catania v Juventus (4 pm)
AS Roma v Udinese
(12.15 am)
German Bundesliga
Saturday
Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund (7 pm)
Sunday
Bayern Munich v Bayer
Leverkusen (9 pm)
Stuttgart vs Eintracht Frankfurt (7 pm)
