Champions League high flyers

By Helen Bendell helen.bendell@william-reed.co.uk

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Manchester united Champions league Arsenal f.c. Manchester united f.c.

Three English teams are well placed to progress to the next stage of the Champions League, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all ahead in...

Three English teams are well placed to progress to the next stage of the Champions League, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all ahead in their groups.

Liverpool, despite their frequent presence in the finals of recent years, are not looking so strong, four points adrift of Group A leaders Porto.

With Manchester United and Arsenal still locking horns at the top of the Premier League - and particularly after their recent 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium - next week's European fixtures will provide a chance to grab a valuable psychological edge, as well as shoring up their positions at the top of their respective group tables.

Arsenal travel to Spain for their penultimate group game on Tuesday. Their match against Sevilla is on ITV4. Coverage starts at 7.30pm.

Also on Tuesday, Sporting Lisbon make the trip to Old Trafford in the hope of avenging their 0-1 defeat in Portugal (ITV1, 7.30pm).

Rosenborg host Chelsea on Wednesday. Coverage is on SSX at 7.30pm. Anfield is the scene of Liverpool's crucial clash with Porto (6.00pm, SS2). KO for both is at 7.45pm.

Domestically, cracks are showing for Newcastle. The mid-table Magpies haven't notched up a win in three games but their Premiership total of five wins is only one behind Liverpool's win total from 12. See if Rafa Benitez's rotation system can overturn the home advantage on Saturday (SS1, 12.30pm).

Spurs seem to be on an upward trajectory, having conceded only one goal per game since the arrival of Juande Ramos and Gus Poyet. Their previous two per match average means they've let in more than twice as many goals as Sunday's fellow Londoners West Ham.

How will Spurs' newly improved defence stand up against a West Ham side that recently tucked away an impressive five goals against Derby (SS1, 1.00pm)?

Elsewhere in the capital, Fulham host Blackburn Rovers. Coverage from Craven Cottage starts at 3.30pm on SS1, with KO at 4.00pm.

Welsh rugby union fans were understandably disappointed when their side failed to make it beyond the group stages of the Rugby World Cup. Their one-off Test against world champions South Africa will be the first major challenge under caretaker coach Nigel Davies. Wales' most-capped prop, Gethin Jenkins, takes over the captaincy from Gareth Thomas. The Dragons take on the Springboks on Saturday at 2.30pm (BBC1).

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