The final Premier League fixture of 2015 left Liverpool seventh and Sunderland seven points adrift of safety. While Christian Benteke’s latest goal against opponents he cannot seem to stop scoring against entitles Jürgen Klopp to think about a return to the Champions League the Wearsiders appear entrenched in 19th position.

With only Aston Villa confronting a worse plight, Saturday’s game here between the bottom two threatens to be a dress rehearsal for Championship combat next season but Sunderland have only themselves to blame.