PARIS — Liverpool almost paid the price for fielding a near second-string side for its Europa League opener with Swiss side Young Boys in Bern Thursday, but held on to win a thrilling match 5-3. The Merseyside giants were the only English winners on the night with Newcastle held 0-0 at Maritimo in Portugal and Tottenham also left goalless at home to Lazio. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, goalkeeper Jose Reina, striker Luis Suarez, first-choice defenders Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Welsh international midfield playmaker Joe Allen all remained behind on Merseyside for Thursday's trip to Switzerland. And Brendan Rodgers' decision seemed it might backfire against a doughty Swiss side in a match with goal-scoring opportunities galore. Liverpool, in its 100th UEFA Cup and Europa League match, went 1-0 up after just four minutes thanks to a most bizzare Juhani Ojala own goal. But Raphael Nuzzolo pulled one back for Young Boys before Andre Wisdom made it 2-1 for Liverpool at the break. The home side shot into the lead with goals from Ojala and, thanks to an excellent finish, Gonzalo Zarate in the 63rd minute. But Sebastian Coates got one back to draw the Reds level, and impressive 20-year-old replacement Jonjo Shelvey bagged a brace to give the scoreline a slightly more healthy hue than it deserved. Rodgers, whose team tackles Manchester United in the Premier League Sunday, said he always had faith in his young players. “I don't see it as courageous or brave, I just trust in my players,” he said. Liverpool's Premier League rivals Newcastle had to be happy with a goalless draw with Maritimo Funchal, based on the Atlantic island of Madeira. Andre Villas-Boas is still waiting for his first home win as Tottenham boss after his team were held to a 0-0 draw by Lazio at White Hart Lane. Tottenham's luck was out as Villas-Boas's side had three goals disallowed — including a fine diving header by Clint Dempsey. “I thought I was level with the line, it was a good ball from (Gareth) Bale,” said Dempsey. Reigning Europa League champion Atletico Madrid kicked off the defense of its title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Israeli club Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Goals from Cristian Rodriguez and Diego Costa in the first half, allied by a third from Raul Garcia in the second period, saw the Spanish club stretch their European winning streak to 14 matches. In Turkey, controversial English midfielder Joey Barton — still ineligible for league action following a ban picked up last season, made his debut for Marseille, whom he has joined on loan from Queens Park Rangers. And it turned out to be a memorable night as the southern French club snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw with Fenerbahce, although Barton was substituted in the 71st minute with the score at 2-0. Inter Milan needed a stoppage time equaliser from Japan full-back Yuto Nagatomo to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Russian side Rubin Kazan. UEFA opens case on racism claims UEFA began disciplinary proceedings against Lazio Friday over the “improper conduct of the club's supporters” in its Europa League tie at Tottenham Hotspur. Media reports said Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, winger Aaron Lennon and second-half substitute Andros Townsend were the target of monkey chants from the Italian team's fans Thursday although manager Andre Villas-Boas said he did not hear anything. Elsewhere, Tottenham's London rival Chelsea has notified police after midfielder John Obi Mikel was abused on Twitter following the 2-2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League Wednesday. — Agencies
