CARDIFF, Wales - Garry Monk was handed the Swansea managers job Wednesday on a permanent basis after keeping the south Wales clu

CARDIFF, Wales - Garry Monk was handed the Swansea managers job Wednesday on a permanent basis after keeping the south Wales club in the Premier League. Patrick Willis 49ers Jersey . The 35-year-old Monk signed a three-year contract, three months after stepping up from the playing squad to replace the fired Michael Laudrup. "I have had a taste of the job for the last three months and its something Ive really enjoyed," Monk said. "Now Im really looking forward to the next phase in my life and the clubs progression." Monk has been at Swansea for a decade, playing a key role in defence and as captain as the team climbed from the fourth tier to the Premier League, and then won its first major piece of silverware — the 2013 League Cup. "Garry represents all the strong values we hold so dearly as a football club," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said. "We have all been impressed with his work-rate and commitment since taking over the reins in February and how he adapted in very difficult circumstances to secure the points we needed to remain in the topflight." Swansea heads into the final match of the campaign against Sunderland on Sunday in 13th place, and preparing for a fourth season in the Premier League. "We all agreed that we needed to get back to basics and reinforce the principles that have brought us success in recent years," Jenkins said. Kwon Alexander 49ers Jersey . - Even with a new coach, the Denver Nuggets still love to push the basketball. Mike McGlinchey Jersey . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., who trains out of San Diego, will fight bantamweight champion (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey on July 5 in the co-main event of UFC 175 in Las Vegas. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Joe-Montana-Jersey/ .com) - The New York Islanders will try to solve their issues against Central Division opponents when they visit the Minnesota Wild for Tuesdays battle at Xcel Energy Center.LIVERPOOL, England -- Title-chasing Liverpool overcame an attack of nerves to squeeze to a 2-1 win over Sunderland and move to within a point of leader Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday. Steven Gerrards free kick and Daniel Sturridges deflected shot put Liverpool two goals clear by the 48th minute, but the pressure of being a serious challenger for the title for the first time since 2009 showed in the final half-hour. Ki Sung-yeungs 76th-minute header came amid a dominant spell for the relegation-threatened visitors and Liverpool survived some hair-raising moments in the last minutes to seal a seventh straight league win. Hope has turned into expectation at Anfield these past few weeks as Liverpool -- the dominant side in England in the late 1970s and 1980s -- revives its glory days to launch a title challenge against all the odds. Its players loss of composure in the latter stages was telling, and it is set to get even more nervy over the next few weeks with seven games left. "We have had a wonderful season until now, but there is still a way to go and the message to the supporters is to keep believing," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "As the season goes on, we will embrace the pressure and enjoy it." The victory lifted Liverpool into second place -- two points above Manchester City, which has two games in hand over the sides above them. But this was not as convincing as the Reds previous six victories, when they scored at least three goals every game to cement their status as the Premier League entertainers. "The game was set up for a big party, four or five goals," said Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, who added: "My friends in Uruguay didnt send me one text before the game ... they thought wed be destroyed." The game certainly looked like it would go that way when Sturridge found the net, via a deflection off Wes Brown, for his 20th goal of the campaign. That ensured two Liverpool players have scored at least 20 times in the same season for the first time in 50 years, when Roger Hunt and Ian St. Nick Bosa Jersey. John were prolific in leading the line for the Reds. Luis Suarezs current haul stands at 28 goals and although the Uruguay international didnt add to his tally against Sunderland, he played a key role in the opener. Santiago Vergini escaped with just a yellow card when he hauled down Suarez when last man. Sunderland hadnt escaped, though, as Gerrard curled the resulting free kick in the 39th into the top corner for his ninth goal in 2014. Relief spread around Anfield but the nerves were to return midway through the second half, when Liverpool sat back and started to get sloppy in possession. The deficit was halved when Adam Johnson whipped in a corner that crept through a crowded area for fellow substitute Ki to stoop and head in at the far post. And Sunderland should have returned to the north east with a point as John OShea headed a gilt-edged chance wide just before injury time. Its another win chalked up by Liverpool as it seeks a first league title since 1990 and the clubs fans are starting to believe again. The way they cheered Liverpools players into Anfield before the game got Rodgers heart beating. "Our game started on the coach on the way in here," Rodgers said. "Any guys who watched Liverpool in the 70s and 80s coming in, it filled me with great pride being the manager of the club as we were driving in." Liverpool, which is unbeaten in 2014, has home games remaining against City and Chelsea. "We are in fantastic position," Gerrard said, "but we havent won anything yet." In Wednesdays other game, West Ham ended a three-game losing streak as an own-goal by James Chester secured a 2-1 win over 10-man Hull in a match between two mid-table teams. Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor was shown a straight red card after charging into Mo Diame midway through the first half and Mark Noble dispatched the resulting penalty to give West Ham the lead. Nikica Jelavic equalized in the 48th. ' ' '