Premier League As It Happened: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland - West Ham United 2-1 Hull City

Full time: West Ham United 2-1 Hull City

Full time: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland

21:52: Liverpool hold on to go second in the Premier League and within a point of leaders Chelsea. Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge's goals were in the end enough but Ki's late header set up a nervy last 15 minutes.

At Upton Park, West Ham go above Hull into 11th after Mark Noble's penalty and James Chester's own goal came either side of Nikica Jelavic's goal. Allan McGregor was sent off in the first half in controversial fashion and Steve Bruce will be fuming

That's all we've got time for on this Premier League mid-week feast. We're back this weekend with among others Arsenal v Manchester City. Until then, goodbye.

Full time: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland

21:47: Three added minutes to be played on Merseyside.

21:46: So close for Sunderland. Johnson's elivery finds John O'Shea whose flicked header is into the path of Jozy Altidore, but Martin Skrtel gets himself inbetween player and ball and it goes behind. Let off for Liverpool.

21:44: Only two minutes plus stoppage time to go at Anfield. Dangerous looking free-kick for Sunderland....

21:42: About as unconvincing a home win as you'll see from West Ham. I doubt the home faithful will be convinced even if the Hammers now go above Hull in the table. Fancy Steve Bruce will be in Mike Dean's ear.

Full time: West Ham United 2-1 Hull City

21:38: First glimmer Shane Long has had all evening as he leaps highest from the right-wing cross but only heads harmlessly over the bar. Hull's race is almost run as we enter four added minutes.

21:37: West Ham meanwhile are hanging on at Upton Park as Hull sense a late equaliser. sitting on the edge of their own box are Sam Allardyce's team. Approaching the end of normal time.

21:35: They've been knocking on the door in the second half and finally Sunderland get the goal their second half performance has deserved. Adam Johnson's corner isn't dealt with and the ball bounces through to Ki, who has been heavily involved since coming on, and the South Korean heads into a virtually open net. Game on in the last 15 minutes.

Goal: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland (Ki Sung Yueng)

21:31: Less than 10 minutes for Hull to find a second equaliser in east London. Tom Huddlestone cracks goalwards from range and a deflection takes the ball over the bar. Closest the visitors have come in the second half.

21:29: Sunderland within a whisker of dragging themselves back into this match. Dossena heads the ball back from where it came after a cross-field pass and Lee Catermole meets it and the ball crashes off the crossbar with Mignolet stranded. Now Liverpool rattle the woodwork as Sturridge's effort hits the bar too.

21:26: Hull haven't been able to rouse themselves since West Ham retook the lead. Shane Long has been devoid of service all evening and the Hammers have look remarkably solid despite playing against 10 men.

21:23: Johnson has looked lively since coming on for Sunderland and it's his shot which Mignolet is forced to claim with ease. Liverpool a pass away from making it three even if gaps at the back are starting to appear.

21:18: Adam Johnson and Ki on for Sunderland. Even with nearly half an hour to play, a comeback looks very unlikely.

21:12: Luis Suarez has been a master of giving Liverpool healthy wins this season but he contributes to denying them a third as he inadvertantly blocks Daniel Sturridge's goalbound effort which was all but certain to nestle in the corner.

21:06: Under way in the second half at Anfield and Liverpool take three minutes to stretch their lead. Daniel Sturridge cuts onto his left foot and via a deflection off Wes Brown curls a beauty into the far corner beyond Mannone for his 20th league goal of the season. That should be that.

Goal: Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland (Daniel Sturridge)

21:04: The gods are firmly against Hull City. West Ham ahead for the second and again in fortunate circumstances. A cross from Demel on the right bounces awkwardly and James Chester sticks out a left leg and diverts past Steve Harper. Papers over the cracks from a West Ham point of view.

Goal: West Ham United 2-1 Hull City (James Chester own goal)

20:57: West Ham have been very disjointed since going ahead and Hull have a leveller. Tom Huddlestone's free-kick is driven goalwards, albeit off target and the ball takes a huge deflection of Jelavic and wrong-foots Adrian in goal. Fortunate for Hull but nothing less than they deserve.

Goal: West Ham United 1-1 Hull City (Nikica Jelavic)

20:53: Second half has begun at Upton Park. Here's hoping for better....

20:48: Half time in both of tonight's games and I'd be lying if I said have been thralling. Mark Noble has West Ham ahead of 10-man Hull in controvercial circumstances while Liverpool are ahead against Sunderland courtesty of Steven Gerrard's free-kick. Little more than that to add. Back in a jiffy with the second halfs....

Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Sunderland

20:46: Vergini, on his third Premier League appearance, is walking a tightrope tonight. He dives in on Suarez on the left hand side, conceding a free-kick, but survives further punishment.

20:44: Sunderland finally threaten. Wickham picks the ball up 25 yards from goal and though his effort is deflected Mignolet has to sprawl to his right to beat the ball away for a corner.

20:41: All of Sunderland's good work undone in one fell swoop. Vergini is mightly fortunate to still be on the pitch after fouling Suarez outside the box with no covering defender. Only a yellow card from Kevin Friend but Gus Poyet's get their just deserts as Steven Gerrard steps up from the resulting free-kick and curls into the top corner with Mannone only able to get a hand on the ball. Relief for the title chasers.

Goal: Liverpool 1-0 Sunderland (Steven Gerrard)

Half time: West Ham United 1-0 Hull City

20:35: Liverpool very pedestrian in the first half against a dogged Sunderland. A vibrant evening at Anfield is turning into a nervy one for the home side. Gus Poyet's men impressing.

20:32: Six minutes of added time at the end of thee first half at Upton Park due to the delay over the penalty which seperates the two sides. Little else does in truth. Poor first 45 minutes.

20:38: West Ham are hardly exerting their numerical advantage here but they do almost force a second. McCartney's cross is in towards Carroll but the England forward heads down and over the bar.

20:23: Steve Bruce has stuck with two strikers up front despite going down to 10 and that intent almost sees them draw level. Elmohamady gallops down the right and his cross evades the West Ham defence and finds Tom Huddlestone but his half-volley flies over the bar. Good chance.

20:17: At Anfield, Liverpool are bright if not effective against a stern Sunderland side in the opening 15 minutes. Luis Suarez has already missed his kick and fall over the ball in an indication that it's not going all the home side's way. The visitors have offered nothing going the other way it must be said.

20:13: It's all going off at Upton Park. Mike Dean points to the spot after what seems like an age as Allan McGregor takes down Mohamed Diame. Looked like the Hammers midfielder handled the ball as it came through to him off Tom Huddlestone. McGregor is dismissed after lengthy treatment and is replaced by Steve Harper, who is powerless to prervent Mark Noble giving the hosts the lead.

Goal: West Ham United 1-0 Hull City (Mark Noble)

Red card: Allan McGregor (Hull City)

Penalty to West Ham United

20:03: First sighter for Liverpool. Coutinho escapes down the right and though the play is slowed down a touch, Glen Johnson lets fly but the ball goes well wide.

20:00: Under way at Anfield.

19:58: Real special atmosphere at Anfield tonight. Fans welcomed the players coach with a myriad of flags and red smoke. The players are out now and there is a real air of expectation.

19:55: Two early chances for The Hammers. First, Allan McGregor turns behind Stewart Downing's effort from range before Andy Carroll's header to cleared only as far as Matt taylor, whose effort is deflected over the top. Good start from the hosts but James Collins is being replaced with what looks like a calf problem, Roger Johnson replaces him.

19:51: Hull City have selected three centre-halfs tonight in order to patrol Andy Carroll tonight. The England forwards gets the better of Curtis Davies, who is likely to be his main opponent tonight, in the game's first hanging cross but West Ham can't muster anything of note. One to keep an eye on that.

19:44: Players are out at Upton Park. They might want to tell the supporters, who haven't exactly turned out for this one. Kick-off on the way.

19:40: Sunderland are without a win since early February's victory at Newcastle United and are seemingly rallying under Gus Poyet the club are stalling in their attempts to survive the drop. Two cup runs have shown the Black Cats are capable of being resilient but they have to start showing those characteristics tonight.

19:35: It's 24 years since Liverpool last won the league title but victory tonight will invigorate their pursuit of the championship. Without the burden of European football this could be the Reds' best chance to win the title. The Premier League's highest scorers will be keen to react to Manchester city's win on Tuesday. Sunderland have been warned.

19:20: It's tight at both ends of the table so how could it be affected tonight? Liverpool will go second if they can beat Sunderland, who will climb out of the bottom three if they can stage a surprise win at Anfield. A draw means both teams stay put.

Hull will go within a point of the top half if they can beat West Ham at Upton Park. The Hammers will go above Steve Bruce's team if they can return to winning ways at home. Defeat for Sunderland means any point will alleviate the pair's lingering relegation fears.

19:14: Despite producing a truely horrid display against Manchester United, West Ham are unchanged for the visit of Hull. The Tigers make two changes with Maynor Figueroa and Alex Bruce both returning.

Liverpool are unchanged for the visit of Sunderland after beating Cardiff at the weekend. Gus Poyet has made five changes in an attempt to turn their survival hopes around. Connor Wickham's recall in place of the ineligible Fabio Borini is perhaps the most eyecatching of those.

19:07: Teams

Liverpool v Sunderland

Liverpool: Mignolet, Flanagan, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge

Sunderland: Mannone, Bardsley, Dossena, Brown, O'Shea, Vergini, Cattermole, Bridcutt, Giaccherini, Altidore, Wickham

19:05: Teams

West Ham United v Hull City

West Ham United: Adrian, McCartney, Tomkins, Taylor, Collins, Noble, Demel, Diame, Downing, Nolan, Carroll

Hull City: McGregor, Figueroa, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore, Jelavic, Long, Elmohamady

19:00: After Manchester City win at Manchester United and Arsenal draw with Swansea City it's the turn of Liverpool to flex their title muscle. Brendan Rodgers has finally admitted the Reds are in the hunt for the title and his side can go within a point of leaders Chelsea if they can overcome relegation strugglers and Capital One Cup runners-up Sunderland.

Elsewhere, West Ham and Hull collide for mid-table supremacy. A win for either at Upton Park will all but assume them another season in English football's top flight. Should be a feisty old evening.