LONDON, Aug 10: Former European champions Inter Milan, Liverpool and Marseille all sealed their places in the Europa League playoffs on Thursday.

Inter narrowly avoided a humiliating qualifying exit when they lost 2-0 to Croatia’s Hajduk Split at the San Siro, surviving courtesy of their 3-0 win in the away leg last week.

Inter’s problems began in the 23rd minute of the third qualifying round second-leg tie when Hajduk forward Ivan Vukovic was fouled by Walter Samuel and Ante Vukusic converted the penalty.

Inter had a flurry of chances just before the break but fell further behind when Vukovic rifled the ball home from just inside the area in the 68th minute.

Vukusic nearly sent the game to extra-time when his low shot was just wide of the post as Inter fans watched in stunned silence.

“It’s only Aug 9, these things happen,” said Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni. “The important thing is that we got through.”

Luis Suarez was the key player as Liverpool moved smoothly into the final qualifying round with a 3-0 win over Gomel of Belarus.

The Uruguyan created first-half goals for Fabio Borini and skipper Steven Gerrard as the east European visitors proved no match for the Merseyside giants. Glen Johnson added another after half-time.

It was a positive way for Brendan Rodgers to mark his first home game in charge, particularly with his first signing Borini capping a useful performance by grabbing a precious goal on his home debut, thrashing home a first-time shot from 10 yards.

More significant tests are to come and the presence of Reds’ former assistant-manager Steve Clarke was a reminder that the first Premier League game against West Brom is only nine days away.

However, this win should at least settle some of the nerves which have started to grow amid speculation that Daniel Agger and Andy Carroll might end up joining the summer exodus from a club that expects much better than last season’s eighth-place finish.

The other British side in action on the night, Scotland’s Dundee United, were thrashed 5-0 at Dynamo Moscow losing by a hefty 7-2 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Marseille won 3-0 against Eskisehirspor, qualifying 4-1 on aggregate after being held to a 1-1 draw in Turkey and FC Twente of the Netherlands swept past Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Republic 4-0 on aggregate on the back of two 2-0 wins.

Athletic Bilbao, last season’s runners-up, also qualified despite losing to Croatian opponents as they went down 2-1 at Slaven Belupo Koprivnica but won 4-3 on aggregate.

Other teams to progress in Thursday’s 29 matches included Steaua Bucharest and APOEL Nicosia, last season’s surprise Champions League quarter-finalists.

Winners of the playoff round, to be played on Aug 23 and 30, will qualify for the group stage.—Agencies