Image source, Getty Images

So Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool must fight for second balls tonight? Let's hope those second balls are not beach balls after what happened in 2009...

That defeat six years ago, when Darren Bent's shot deflected off a beach ball to seal a 1-0 win, was one of only three victories Sunderland have managed in their 28 Premier League matches against Liverpool.

ASLEM: 5 word to sum up 2015 is LVG PHILOSOPHY BORING PAINFUL TO WATCH

Rezaa Sait: Five words to sum up Arsenal, Entertaining, surprising, inconsistent, defensively unstable

Nick Wood: No. No. Yes. YES. Really? #lcfc, external

Sum up how 2015 has been for your team in five words. Tweet your team, and your five words to #bbcfootball., external

Jurgen Klopp is stood in the middle of the pitch, arms folded, and silently watching his players go through their pre-match warm-ups. The significant thing to take from that sight, though, is that his fine head of hair is completely unruffled.

Why's that good news? Because wind is bad for gegenpressing. No hair movement, no wind. 

Just the possibility of long ball football to deal with now...

Fred Kelly: Champions! Summer. Crash, bang, wallop. #chelsea, external

Dan Rousseau: MCFC, stupid bloody injury prone hamstrings

Sum up how 2015 has been for your team in five words. Tweet your team, and your five words to #bbcfootball., external

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

"For Sam Allardyce, it is very difficult. He has been talking about Sunderland being solid and keeping clean sheets but they haven't done that. They are starting to get cut adrift at the bottom. If they don't pick up anything today, it's going to be difficult for them."

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

"For Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, they need to start getting results. He has got the fans on his side and the players have bought into his philosophy, but they need to win games.

"This is a great opportunity for them, they will join Manchester United on 30 points if they win.

"Where are Liverpool's aspirations? The top four is very congested, but they have to crack on in the second half of the season."

Liverpool are in their third kit for tonight's game. If I remember correctly, it's a kit they have done pretty well in this season, beating both Stoke and Southampton in the all back ensemble. A good sign for tonight?

Mark McMahon: 5 words to sum up 2015... Struggling Sunderland, as per usual.

MashTheButton: Liverpool - Disappointing, Boring, Ridiculous, Refreshed, Promising.

Matt Foster: Awesome brilliant amazing fantastic outstanding Leicester City. 

Good response from Carra to be fair.

Image source, Getty Images

Has El-Hadji Diouf got out of the wrong side of the bed this week?

The former Liverpool forward has hit out at Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in a recent interview., external

He called Gerrard an "egotist", but his remark about Carragher was particularly cutting, calling him "a turkey".

Nothing more to say about that really, so here's a picture of Martin Skrtel wearing a turkey hat instead...

Image source, Instagram/@baraskrtel

Suhayb Ali: Liverpool need to go for N'Golo Kante for Joe Allen +£14m. The guys class

MashTheButton: Think it would be decent if Liverpool could pick up Sven Bender, great anchor man to sit in front of the defence

Where does your team need to strengthen and who would be your ideal signing? Let us know via #bbcfootball,, external text in on 81111 (UK only) or post a message on the Match of the Day Facebook page.  

Image source, Getty Images

It looks like Sunderland already have their first January signing in the bag, with Lorient defender Lamine Kone seemingly set to join the club.

According to the Shields Gazette, Lorient vice-president, Alex Hayes, has confirmed that the club have agreed a fee with the Black Cats.

"It is now up to Lamine to find an agreement with Sunderland and to pass the medical before the transfer can be made official," he said., external

Also, as today is New Year's Eve Eve, why not sum up how 2015 has been for your team in five words. Tweet your team, and your five words to #bbcfootball., external

Image source, Getty Images

Christmas is over and now is the time to hit the shops and go bargain hunting with all that lovely money you got on the big day.

It is almost time for football managers to go shopping too, with the transfer window set to open on Friday, and you can see who could be going where in our top 50 targets piece here.

Where does your team need to strengthen and who would be your ideal signing? Let us know via #bbcfootball,, external text in on 81111 (UK only) or post a message on the Match of the Day Facebook page.

Sam Allardyce is not wrong, though, because Sunderland do need to start picking up wins and soon.

They are second bottom of the Premier League, seven points from safety. 

Liverpool, meanwhile, are slap bang in the middle of the table. They are 10th, but can go level with sixth-placed Manchester United on 30 points if they win tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Allardyce has never been in charge of a relegated side but, sorry to say this Sunderland fans, I fear his proud record is likely to come to an end this season.

It started quite promisingly for Allardyce at the Black Cats with three wins from five games, but since then he has overseen four straight defeats to leave Sunderland deep in the relegation mire.

How can Sunderland stop the rot? "Just stop losing," says Sam Allardyce. 

You know things are bad when that is the extent of your advice...

BBC Radio 5 Live

Coming up from 19:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 live, Caroline Barker presents build-up to Sunderland versus Liverpool, before full match commentary on the game gets under at 19:45 GMT.