London - Nicolas Anelka netted a hat-trick as Chelsea crushed Sunderland 5-0 on Saturday to go top of the English Premier League table on goal difference.

Alex and Frank Lampard scored the other goals to lift Chelsea alongside Liverpool on 26 points, but with a better goal difference. Liverpool can regain the lead if they avoid defeat in the day's late match at Tottenham Hotspur.

Champions Manchester United edged out high-flying Hull City 4-3 to go third above Arsenal, who were stunned 2-1 at lowly Stoke City.

Hamburg - Hoffenheim thrashed Karlsruhe 4-1 to reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga on Saturday, while champions Bayern Munich grabbed a 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld to move to third.

Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Vedad Ibisevic and Nigerian Chinedu Obasi eached bagged two as Hoffenheim swept to a fifth successive victory.

It puts Rolf Rangnick's side onto to 25 points from 11 games, one more than Bayer Leverkusen, who had gone top overnight after defeating Wolfsburg 2-0.

Madrid - Real Madrid midfielder will be out of action indefinitely, sports daily Marca reported on Saturday.

Marca states that the Spanish international will not play again until the causes of his Wednesday fainting fit are known.

De la Red, 23, fainted after just 18 minutes of Real's cup game away to third division side Union Irun. Scenes of panic and concern ensued, as the Spanish international was stretchered off unconscious and rushed to hospital.

London, Nov 1 : Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been cautioned for spitting at a photographer and forced to pen a grovelling apology to his victim.

The Manchester United ace finally said sorry last night when he attended a police station in central London.

Rooney, 22, spat on Lee Simmons’s back as he left a restaurant in the capital with wife Coleen, also 22.

London, Nov 1: Ace Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to win over the Manchester United fans, just like he did after the 2006 World Cup.

The United winger has faced the wrath of supporters after making no secret of his desire to join Real Madrid in the summer.

Ronaldo returned a villain from Germany two years ago for his part in Wayne Rooney’s red card — and the infamous wink to the bench in Portugal’s win over England.

London, Nov 1: Ronaldinho has backed LA Galaxy star David Beckham’s loan switch to AC Milan.

England ace Beckham will join the Italian giants from LA Galaxy in January to keep up his fitness levels during the MLS off-season.

And Brazil star Ronaldinho, who signed for AC Milan in the summer, cannot wait to play alongside Beckham.

“He’s a great champion. I hope he’s happy with us. We’ll take turns taking free kicks. I’ve met him in the past and I have always been struck by his class,” The Sun quoted Ronaldinho, as saying.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claims Beckham’s arrival is a dream come true.