Relieved Liverpool edge closer to Chelsea at top of EPL standings after win over Sunderland

LIVERPOOL have climbed to within one point of Chelsea at the top of the EPL standings after a nervy 2-1 victory over lowly Sunderland at Anfield.

LIVERPOOL have climbed to within one point of Chelsea at the top of the EPL standings after a nervy 2-1 victory over lowly Sunderland at Anfield.

There were only glimpses of the free-flowing football which has been a trademark of their ascension this season as they were forced to dig deep against a resolute Sudnerland side, especially late on.

News_Image_File: Steven Gerrard got Liverpool off to a great start.The home side dominated the first half but couldn’t breach the Sunderland defence until the 39th minute when captain Steven Gerrard scored from a free-kick.

And when Daniel Sturridge added a second three minutes after the break - his 20th of the campaign - it looked as though Liverpool would race away to another huge win.

Sturridge’s goal meant that he and Luis Suarez have now both scored 20 league goals this season - the first time two Liverpool strikers have achieved that feat since Ian St John and Roger Hunt in the 1963-1964 campaign.

But Sunderland dug deep and got one back through substitute Ki Sung-yeung in the 76th minute. They had chances to force an equaliser late on but Liverpool survived to record their seventh successive league win.

News_Rich_Media: Watch as Liverpool get a nervy win over Sunderland and Hull have a horror night going down 2-1 to West HamThe victory enabled the Reds to regain second spot in the table, a point behind leaders Chelsea, although Manchester City - two points back in third place - have two games in hand on the teams above them.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged starting line-up from his side’s 6-3 victory at Cardiff City, while Sunderland counterpart Gus Poyet made five changes to the team beaten 2-0 at Norwich City.

With three centre-backs in a 5-3-2 system, the visitors’s intentions were clear as they packed men into the middle of the pitch, restricting Liverpool to efforts from distance in the opening stages.

Having equalled Robbie Fowler’s Premier League record of 28 goals in a season for the club against Cardiff last weekend, Luis Suarez looked a likely source for the breakthrough.

News_Rich_Media: 10 man Hull fought back to a 1-1 scoreline, only to be undone by this unfortunate own goal.

And after threatening with a shot after a jinking run, the striker won the free kick that yielded Liverpool’s opening goal.

Gerrard stepped up from just outside the box and fiercely bent the ball into the top-right corner of the net, past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

The momentum was all Liverpool’s and they doubled their lead three minutes into the second half with a goal from Sturridge, who curled the ball into the top left corner from the edge of the area, via a deflection off Wes Brown’s knee.

Sunderland, fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table, showed plenty of heart and the impressive Lee Cattermole rattled the crossbar with a swerving shot in the 70th minute.

Moments later Sturridge did the same for the hosts at the other end, but it was Sunderland who pulled a goal back with 14 minutes left to leave Anfield sweating.

News_Image_File: Andy Carroll celebrates West Ham’s winner - a calamitous own goal.Meanwhile, West Ham United eased their relegation fears by snapping a run of three consecutive defeats with a 2-1 victory at home to Hull City.

Hull were reduced to 10 men mid-way through the first half when goalkeeper Allan McGregor was sent off for a foul on Mohamed Diame, with Mark Noble putting West Ham ahead from the resulting penalty.

Nikica Jelavic equalised early in the second half, only for an unfortunate own goal by Hull defender James Chester in the 54th minute to gift West Ham all three points.

Victory saw West Ham leapfrog their opponents in the table, leaving the east London club nine points clear of the relegation zone in 11th place.