London - Liverpool kept their title hopes alive with a 3-1 win at Hull City on Saturday as they moved back above Manchester United on goal difference at the top of the English Premier League. A first-half strike from Xabi Alonso set Liverpool on their way and two goals from Dirk Kuyt sealed the points, though champions United can go back three points clear at the top, with a game still in hand, if they beat Tottenham Hotspur later on Saturday.

London - West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has agreed to extend his

Sinsheim, Germany  - Hertha Berlin won 1-0 at slumping TSG Hoffenheim on Friday to keep their German Bundesliga football title hopes alive.

Patrick Ebert scored the winner in the 40th minute, taking up a pass from Marko Pantelic and beating goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand from a tight angle with a shot into the near right corner.

Hoffenheim dominated but failed to get the equalizer, with Hertha goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny saving twice from Sejad Salihovic and substitute Boubacar Sanogo heading against the crossbar.

Madrid  - The disciplinary committee of the Spanish football federation announced on Friday evening a suspension of 10 matches for Real Madrid defender Pepe, for his part in the incidents at the end of Tuesday's stormy Real-Getafe clash.

The Portugal international pushed over Getafe's Francisco Casquero for a late penalty, then kicked the veteran midfielder twice whilst he was on the ground, and hit Getafe forward Juan Albin.

Pepe had to be pulled off the field by Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas, and left insulting the match officials.

Rome - A few years ago, la Repubblica columnist Vittorio Zucconi wrote that only madmen would continue calling the Italian Serie A the best league in the world. Time proved the veteran journalist to be right and today, despite a fourth World Cup won in 2006, it is hard to find someone who feels like comparing Italy's top flight with that of England or Spain where the best players in the world tend to go these days.

Madrid - Villarreal moved up to fifth in the Spanish Liga on Thursday with a 2-1 home win over lowly Recreativo Huelva.

Their first win in five games leaves the Yellow Submarine with 52 points from 32 games, three points behind fourth-place Valencia and two ahead of sixth-place Malaga.

Javier Camunas gave Huelva the lead after just two minutes, but Joseba Llorente made it 1-1 for Villarreal with a powerful drive four minutes before half-time.

The winning goal, in the 68th minute, was controversial, to say the least.