London - Champions Manchester United closed the gap on leaders Liverpool at the top of the English Premier League after they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on Monday night.

Dimitar Berbatov broke the deadlock after 67 minutes to seal victory and lift third-placed United to within seven points of the top, with two games still in hand over the leaders.

United have now won three of their past four league games by the same 1-0 scoreline. United play second-placed Chelsea in their next league match.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a couple of good chances to open the scoring in the first half while Nemanja Vidic headed wide and Wayne Rooney forced a good save out of Ross Turnbull.

London, Dec 29 : Brit footballer David Pratt has landed himself the world's fastest-ever red card.

London, Dec 29: England midfielder David Beckham, who is on a loan switch to AC Milan, is so fit that he can play at the top level until 2015.

The Italian giants are eager to make the deal permanent, and club medic Jean-Pierre Meerseeman believes that Beckham, who turned 34 in May, can play on until 2015.

That is the amazing verdict of the doctor who gave the England star his medical approval at AC Milan, The Sun reported.

London  - Liverpool hammered Newcastle 5-1 on Sunday to retain their lead at the top of the Premier League.

The decision of their manager Rafa Benitez - back in the stands after treatment for kidney stones - to leave out forward Robbie Keane despite his two goals against Bolton on Friday caused surprise, but Liverpool produced their most convincing performance of the season.

In that they were aided by a miserable performance from Newcastle, who suffered a first home defeat under Joe Kinnear.

Only the brilliance of Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given kept the score down, but Steven Gerrard, twice, Sami Hyypia, Ryan Babel and Xabi Alonso all - eventually - managed to beat him.

Madrid  - Struggling Spanish Liga club Mallorca have signed goalkeeper Dudu Aouate from Deportivo Coruna, the club said Sunday.

Mallorca have been keen to sign another goalkeeper to replace Miguel Angel Moya, out until late February after undergoing a knee operation.

Mallorca are to pay Deportivo around 1 million euros (1.40 million dollars) for Aouate who is being given a contract until 2011.

The Israeli international will have a baptism of fire in the Mallorca goal on January 3, away to runaway leaders Barcelona.

Mallorca are fourth from bottom in La Liga and facing a difficult relegation battle.

London  - Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley confirmed on Sunday that he is no longer seeking to sell the club.

Ashley bought the club in May 2007, but decided to offload it in September after the resignation of manager Kevin Keegan prompted fan protests against him.

He called in the investment bank Seymour Pierce to seek a buyer, but despite reported interest from the Middle East and Nigeria, none emerged.

"When I took the decision to put the club up for sale in September I made a point of saying two things were very important," Ashley was quoted as saying on the club website.