It's do or die for a number of teams across Europe as the UEFA Europa League winds down.

Half of the teams in the field play their final group games of the tournament today, including Clint Dempsey's Fulham, which can cement a place in the knockout round and set the tone for perhaps another deep tournament run with a win or by getting some help.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Liverpool is to overcome its less-than-stellar start to the season and get back in contention for a Champions League spot, it will have to do so without one of its top players.

Lucas Leiva has been ruled out for the remainder of the Premiership campaign after sustaining a knee injury in Liverpool's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Liverpool is reportedly set to rival Sunderland for FC Zurich striker Admir Mehmedi when the transfer window opens in January.
The 20-year-old has scored 13 goals in 47 appearances for his current employers, while he has been awarded three senior international caps for Switzerland.
According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool has sent scouts to monitor Mehmedi and will battle Sunderland for his signature.

Liverpool join Sunderland in race for Admir Mehmedi

Sunderland face competition from Liverpool and Nuremberg for FC Zurich striker Admir Mehmedi in the January transfer window. Liverpool have already watched him.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-14 22:47:19 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool has reportedly re-joined the race to sign Dutch international striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
The 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon starlet emerged on the Manchester United radar earlier in the week, with Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly taking a keen interest in the former FC Utrecht hitman.
However, Portuguese publication Correio da Manha claim that Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is again considering a move for the player, less than a year after the Liverpool chief made a personal scouting trip to Holland to watch the player.

By CALEB SONNELAND

World-champion Spain's stint atop the FIFA rankings is officially over, with the Netherlands being the usurpers.

Bert van Marwijk's side ascended to the No. 1 spot after the Spaniards crashed to a friendly 2-1 defeat to Italy earlier in August.

Bayern Munich eased their way through to the Champions League proper with a 1-0 away win at FC Zurich tonight with the winning goal scored by Mario Gomez on 7 minutes. Bayern went through 3-0 on aggregate having done most of the hard work in the first leg.

Five spots in the UEFA Champions League group stage will be claimed on Tuesday as the final play-in round winds down in Europe.

Bayern Munich will look to hold on to its 2-0 aggregate lead over FC Zurich, while Villarreal will try and overturn a 1-0 deficit to Odense BK in two of the more intriguing second-leg matches.

We'll be back soon with an account of what we watched this past weekend, but first there are two matches later today that are worthy of your attention:

Monday, August 22

Gamper Trophy (friendly), Barcelona-Napoli (2:30pmET, ESPN3.com):

This is an annual pre-season friendly hosted by Barcelona each August, named after Joan (nee Hans) Gamper a Swiss player and businessman, and founding member of FC Zurich.

UEFA Champions League on Fox Soccer: FC Zurich - Bayern Munich at 2:30pm and Villarreal - Odense BK at 5pm. On Fox Soccer Plus: Malmo - Dinamo Zagreb at 2:30pm. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer: Monterrey - Seattle at 8pm and Real Espana - Colorado at 10pm. All Times Eastern

Chris McClintick returns (Are you getting college credit for these features yet, Chris?) to TSG with a feature on Borussia Mönchengladbach (or as we affectionately call them around here "Bo'Munchen) minus one Michael Bradley.

Favre's Foals.

Bayern Munich veteran Arjen Robbens gives his side a 2-0 lead against FC Zurich in their Champions League qualifier with a brilliantly struck shot from just inside the box.

We haven't even hit September yet, but we're already getting mid-week soccer schedules loaded with incredible match-ups. Today is one of those special days.

FC Barcelona takes on Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup second leg today, with Barcelona having earned a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Madrid.

Depending on the Moroccan

Arsenal play again tonight, signs that football is well and truly back. While we are only really at the beginning of the season, games are coming thick and fast. Champions League is on the menu for tonight albeit the play-off for the group stage proper. Of course, we could've avoided this fixture had we not stumbled towards the tail end of last season.

Liechtenstein Prime Minister Dr. Klaus Tschutscher has hailed Liverpool's Ability Counts team and believes they have done the club proud during their week-long stay in Switzerland.
Although they were beaten in the final of the European Disabled football tournament by FC Zurich in Ruggell on Saturday, the Reds made a big impression on everybody they encountered.

Liverpool are through to the semi-finals of the Swiss U16 Cup after clinching first place in Group B on Saturday.
The Reds recorded an emphatic 5-0 victory over St Gallen in their opening game of the day in Ruggell to ensure they'd finish top, meaning their 2-1 defeat to Rapid Vienna had no impact on the final standings.

Pics: Final disappointment for Reds

There was disappointment for Liverpool's Ability Counts team as they were beaten in the European Disabled football tournament final by FC Zurich on Saturday.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-08-06 13:25:21 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Arsenal will face off against Italian side Udinese in the Champions League qualifying draw on Friday. The draw took place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland and also threw up several other interesting ties which have got tongues wagging. The most feared team in the draw Bayern Munich were paired with FC Zurich of [.

This isn't a knock on the Houston Dynamo rookie striker Will Bruin. The former Indiana University star appears to have a bright future in front of him - which is one reason why I have him in as many fantasy leagues as possible - but he wasn't a true test for the revamped Union defense.

Eric Hassli, however, is a stiker who can force the Union defense into showing what their mettle is truly made of.

Finally Whitecaps fans's prayers have been answered! Fans continuously asked for a designated player and a forward, and now they've got both in the form of Eric Hassli. But... are they really that happy? I'll admit it, when I saw that the Whitecaps signed Eric Hassli as their designated player, I was slightly disappointed.

Finally Whitecaps fans's prayers have been answered! Fans continuously asked for a designated player and a forward, and now they've got both in the form of Eric Hassli. But... are they really that happy? I'll admit it, when I saw that the Whitecaps signed Eric Hassli as their designated player, I was slightly disappointed.

ZURICH, Switzerland The Swiss club Grasshoppers says it must leave Zurich after 125 years because talks with authorities over rent and operating costs have broken down. The 27-time champions are exploring stadium-sharing options next season with clubs in Aarau and Emmen. Club officials say the city has refused to reduce annual rent at Letzigrund [.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

After holding talks with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Robbie Savage has decided to stay in England.

"I'm going to stay here," Savage, 36, said on Twitter. "Canada was a great option but it was too big a move for my family." The former Wales international currently plays for Derby County in the English Championship and works occasionally as a television pundit.