Rafael Benitez believes if Liverpool win in his home city of Madrid in their next Champions League group match on October 22 they will have one foot in the knockout stage.

Liverpool 3 PSV Eindhoven 1

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez recalled Fabio Aurelio at left-back in place of Andrea Dossena for this Champions League group D clash – the only change from the side that won the Merseyside derby at Everton on Saturday.

RANGERS dreams of European glory took a knock when they drew a blank against Sporting Lisbon in their UEFA Cup quarter-final first-leg clash at Ibrox.

A superb second-half display from Zenit St Petersburg put the Russian champions well on their way to the UEFA Cup semi-finals as they stormed to a 4-1 victory at Bayer Leverkusen.

PSV Eindhoven 0 Tottenham 1 (Agg: 1-1, PSV win 6-5 on penalties)

PSV Eindhoven capitalised on Feyenoord’s slip-up at Heerenveen to claim top spot heading into the Eredivisie’s winter break.

SEVILLA showed they are in fine shape ahead of Wednesday’s tough Champions League match against Arsenal with an impressive 4-1 home win over Recreativo Huelva last night.

A late goal from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar earned Ajax a 1-0 win at Heracles Almelo although they could lose their lead at the top of the Eredivisie as soon as Sunday.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder came out fighting after seeing his UEFA Cup dreams fall apart in Holland.

AZ Alkmaar 2 Newcastle 0 (4-4 on aggregate, Alkmaar win on away goals)

Newcastle 4 AZ Alkmaar 2

Newcastle 4 AZ Alkmaar 2

Holland coach Marco van Basten has named Wilfred Bouma and Evander Sno among several Premiership players in a provisional 27-man squad for two upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.

AZ Alkmaar kept their slim title aspirations alive after beating mid-table outfit FC Utrecht for the second time in five days.

REAL Madrid coach Fabio Capello praised David Beckham after the former England captain marked his return with a goal in a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad.

DUTCH giants Ajax’s faltering title hopes were dealt another blow on Saturday but Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven got back on track for a third successive crown with three points against ADO Den Haag.

AZ Alkmaar and Ajax both posted convincing wins today to stay in touch with Dutch League leaders PSV Eindhoven.

Ajax returned to the Eredivisie summit on Sunday after a convincing 3-0 win at Heracles.

PSV Eindhoven still lead the Eredivisie by a point despite Feyenoord’s 7-1 drubbing of Heracles.

Middlesbrough grabbed the point they needed to ensure their place in the knockout stages of this season’s UEFA Cup with a goalless draw against previously free-scoring AZ Alkmaar in Holland.