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Another heavy defeat on New Year’s Eve left Sunderland fans fearing the worst heading into 2017, but a shock home draw with Liverpool earlier today somewhat eased fears at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats remain in the relegation zone, but twice came from behind against the title-chasing Reds, with Jermain Defoe netting two penalty kicks. The performance wasn’t pretty, but there was plenty of heart on show just 48 hours after a wounding loss to a major rival in the battle at the foot of the table.

Still, there’s work to be done in the North East, and with the January transfer window now open there is the chance to act.

The Stadium of Light side haven’t been relegated from the Premier League since 2005/06 and have always found what’s required to stay in the division since returning to the top flight from the Championship at the first time of asking.

Is that a step too far this season? What are Moyes’ priorities heading into the transfer window?

Here are THREE glaring issues that Sunderland must solve in January if they are to stay up…

Support for Defoe

Despite Sunderland’s lowly position in the Premier League, veteran striker Jermain Defoe has still managed to score on a regular basis. Even when his team are performing badly, he’s still popping up with goals – as evidenced by his consolation against Burnley and his two strikes from the penalty spot vs. Liverpool. In fact, eleven of Sunderland’s 19 in 20 games have come via the veteran forward!

What Sunderland need is creativity and the right attacking midfielders who can conjure up more chances for Defoe to knock away.

He isn’t missing many and even though he’s 34, he still has enough quality to keep the Black Cats up.

Goalkeeper gone

Jordan Pickford has been a more than capable choice for Sunderland between the sticks this season but he’s now injured and faces a spell on the sidelines of close to two months.

That leaves Moyes in a bind with Vito Mannone the only viable choice available to him. The Italian ‘keeper didn’t exactly look up to speed in the recent 4-1 thrashing to Burnley, albeit he made some smart stops at home against Liverpool.

Sunderland need competition for the position or face seeing their season sink into oblivion. If Pickford’s recovery is slower than expected then a good chunk of the season’s second half could be lost to Mannone’s poor form.

A loan signing is probably the preferred option here given the Black Cats lack of resources. Can Moyes find a player not getting game time that is good enough to come in and play a vital part in keeping them up?

Defensive deficiencies

Only Hull and Swansea have conceded more goals than Sunderland this season – the Black Cats have let in a massive 37 goals in the Premier League.

The form of Lamine Kone has faded from that he showed last season while the options at right-back are a clear weak link in the backline with only Billy Jones getting a regular game there.

Moyes needs proven defensive talent to come in and help stem the tide or addressing those goalkeeping woes and lack of creativity for Defoe won’t matter.

Every game from here on out is a cup final and the Sunderland manager needs leaders in the backline to provide the platform for success.

When Liverpool’s 28 shots failed to yield a goal on Sunday afternoon against Plymouth, reality started to bite: Jurgen Klopp’s side may have to play nine games this January. Assuming the Reds ease past their League Two rivals when they travel to Devon for their replay, they will be in the Fourth Round of the competition and with those games scheduled for the final weekend of the month, the Merseysiders may enter February having played, on average, once every 3.4 days through January.

So, the Reds could be forgiven for looking at this week’s EFL Cup semi-final trip to Southampton as an unwanted distraction. After all, Klopp’s men are chasing down Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table, potentially playing three more matches than their rivals before February starts. Not ideal.

Far from a distraction, though, the EFL Cup is massive for Liverpool. Forget the ‘runt sibling’ tag the League Cup gets, Klopp needs this trophy, as do the club.

Rewind almost a year and the same final marked what many Kopites thought would be the occasion that really announced their German boss’s arrival in English football. The Reds had blown hot and cold in the league and Europe under their new coach, only a few months into the job at that point, but their run in the Capital One Cup was truly excellent. A 6-1 mauling of Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium was the highlight. Alas, they met a Manchester City team at Wembley with a little more nous on the day and lost on penalty kicks, which set rather a trend for the 2015/16 campaign, culminating in a disappointing defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League Final to close the season.

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That defeat in Switzerland made it five major final defeats in a row for Klopp – an unwanted record and one that is not befitting of one of the top coaches of the modern era. He’s due a win, then. Although this week’s match is not the final, there are at least 180 minutes of action between Liverpool and a return trip to Wembley, it’s as vital as any clash of the 49-year-old’s reign on Merseyside. Lose to the Saints and a first Premier League crown would more than paper over the disappointment, but defeat would likely mean be another silverware-free campaign for Liverpool – who have not lifted a trophy since the League Cup in 2012 – and another for Klopp – who is without a major honour since the same year.

Southampton will be up for it, too. Like Liverpool, they rested a host of key players for a weekend FA Cup draw vs. Norwich, but with the Saints out of the Europa League and unlikely to be the team to bridge the gap between the top six and the rest this term, Claude Puel will see this as his big chance for glory this season. The EFL Cup presents a major trophy and a ticket back into continental competition, both of which have been in short supply on the Hampshire coast in recent history.

This two-legged tie, then, is not a distraction for Liverpool, it is vital one that will define their season. A cup victory may even be the defining moment of Klopp’s time at the club.

Liverpool are a team without a winning identity. Once so dominant, they now have a generation of fans who have never seen them lift the biggest prize in English football, while their most recent memory of success was nearly winning the league in 2013/14 – a season that will be forever remembered for Steven Gerrard’s slip and Luis Suarez’s eventual departure.

The narrative may be that the EFL Cup is a distraction for Liverpool. A distraction they really do not need. But it should really be the key priority this month. Win and they may face Manchester United in the final. What a way that would be for Klopp to banish his own personal daemons and for the club to bring back that winning feeling.

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Premier League outfit Hull City have shared a positive injury update on midfielder Ryan Mason, following his horrific skull fracture sustained at the weekend.

What’s the word?

After a clash of heads with Gary Cahill 13 minutes into Hull’s defeat at Stamford Bridge yesterday, Ryan Mason was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington after undergoing lengthy treatment on the field in West London.

The 25-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur man suffered a horrific head injury in the match and required surgery for a fractured skull. Fortunately, the incident is not as serious as it could have been as Hull shared an update on the player this morning.

What was said?

In a statement, Hull said:

“Ryan has been speaking of the incident yesterday and will continue to be monitored at the hospital over the coming days where the Club will remain in close contact with Ryan, his family and the staff at St Mary’s.”

“Ryan and his family have also been extremely touched by the overwhelming support they have received and would very much like to thank all of those who have posted such positive comments both on social media and in the press over the last 24 hours.”

Social media support

Ryan Mason received many messages of support on social media from fans, players and rival clubs, all of whom wished him a speedy recovery. We’ve compiled a selection below.

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In most cases when a top player announces his retirement, rivalries are put to one side and tributes are made.

That is exactly what has happened in the world of social media after Chelsea legend Frank Lampard hung up his boots.

At the age of 38, the midfielder realised that he could no longer contribute at the top level, but he has bowed out with quite a list of achievements under his belt.

During a 13-year spell at Chelsea, he won 11 major trophies, including three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and the much-coveted Champions League trophy.

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He also scored 303 goals across stints at West Ham United, Chelsea, Manchester City and MLS side New York City.

After the announcement was made on Thursday morning, plenty of figures in the football world have been paying tribute to the former England international.

The fans have also had their say, with plenty thanking Lampard for the great memories.

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Few players have achieved what Zlatan Ibrahimovic has in the game of football. The Swede is a serial winner, with titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France to his name, while he’s his nation’s all-time record goalscorer and is widely regarded as their best ever player.

His credentials should never have been in doubt, yet when it became apparent he would be following his former manager Jose Mourinho to Old Trafford over the summer, the doubters came out in typically vocal fashion.

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That has summed up Ibra’s career from an English football standpoint. Despite his numerous honours, the common belief among Premier League followers always seemed to be that the Scandinavian star was an overrated, over-hyped pretender who would not cut it in a ‘real league’.

Even though the motives behind this belief were some way off of the truth, scepticism was, in a way, justified. At 34, no one could argue that Ibrahimovic was in his prime, while four full seasons strolling to France’s Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain was seen as a state of affairs that would rob him of his sharpness. Then there was the sheer cash involved, with his salary mooted to be around £250,000-per-week – a significant figure for an ageing footballer, even though he was a free agent.

Perhaps, though, the biggest risk was the impact Ibrahimovic’s arrival would have on Marcus Rashford’s development. The 19-year-old was one of few shining lights from 2015/16 at Old Trafford, with his emergence getting bums off seats. Blocking his progression was widely seen as a big issue, but the numbers show the sheer effect the Swede’s arrival has had.

24 goals and six assists in 36 appearances across all competitions is huge. In fact, it works out that Ibra has contributed a decisive action (goal or assist) once every 101 minutes he’s been on the pitch, and even though Man United are rooted in sixth, there’s simply no arguing with his impact.

It’s not just his significant numbers that are so impressive, it’s his overall impact on a Red Devils side that was meandering, too. His talismanic presence has helped to give this team an identity and it’s clear that Paul Pogba, the future talisman at Old Trafford, is thriving alongside Ibrahimovic, with all five of his assists in the red shirt having been laid to the ex-Barcelona man.

Had the move not paid off, Mourinho would be on the rack by now. Infamous for his favouring of proven talent over nurturing younger players, had ‘Mou’ opted for an underperforming veteran ahead of one of English football’s finest emerging talents, the media storm would have been intense. Rashford’s own development may have been knocked, but Mourinho is all about the short-term, and there’s no doubt that’s what Man United needed, with another season out of the Champions League (which may indeed still be the eventual outcome) enough to threaten the club’s elite status and render their ‘galactico’ transfer model hard to justify.

Ibrahimovic has silenced his doubters and it’s hard to see this Man United team being serious top four contenders now without him.

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Everton travel to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday as Ronald Koeman’s side look to continue their unbeaten run in the Premier League.

The Toffees – who had a difficult start to the season under new manager Koeman – have been in terrific form since the turn of the year, and are yet to lose a league game since the beginning of 2017. Their only loss in all competitions since in fact was in the FA Cup, a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City.

During that run, the Merseyside team have dished out thrashings on Southampton and Manchester City, whom they beat 3-0 and 4-0 respectively, and also hit struggling Bournemouth for six in a thrilling 6-3 victory at Goodison Park.

However, if they are to keep their winning streak going, they will have to be at their best this weekend as they face perhaps their greatest challenge since the turn of the year in the form of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham.

Here are three tactical tweaks the Toffees must make in order to conquer Spurs on Sunday …

Exploit the Wide Areas

Against Sunderland, Everton played four central midfielders in the form of Tom Davies, Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye and Ross Barkley. While that tactic worked against Sunderland, who were over-run with quality in the middle of the park, it is unlikely that they will find the same against Spurs who also have quality packed midfield.

Where they can be exploited is out wide. We all know that both Kyle Walker and Danny Rose love to bomb forward on almost every occasion, so starting with players such as Kevin Mirallas and Enner Valencia in wide areas will mean the Toffees can be effective on the counter attack.

Defensive Midfield

As mentioned, Tottenham have a number of high-quality options in the middle of the park and are more than likely to dominate possession during the weekend’s fixture.

This, unfortunately, means that last week’s Man of the Match, young Tom Davies, may have to make way for one of the more defensive-minded central midfielders, Gareth Barry or James McCarthy, in order to provide a better balance in The Toffee’s midfield and stop them getting over-run by the likes of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.

One Up Front

Ademola Lookman has been terrific since his big money move from Charlton Athletic this January, with the youngster looking more than at home on the pitch alongside his strike partner of the past few weeks Romelu Lukaku.

However, going with two up front against a team who are likely to dominate possession, is a risky move. Making way for their second striker gives space for another midfielder which will be key to Everton’s success on Sunday. They did it against Manchester City and it worked a treat, so why not do the same again?

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Adam Lallana is hoping to bring glory days back to Anfield after signing a three-year contract extension with Liverpool this week and has revealed he believes the club is making progress.

The 28-year-old England international has committed his future to Jurgen Klopp’s side with his latest deal and is intent to lift honours with the Merseyside outfit, with the Reds having only won one League Cup since 2006.

Klopp’s side did reach the League Cup and Europa League finals last season though, losing to Manchester City and Sevilla respectively, and Lallana believes the club has made steps towards ending a decade-long wait without a major trophy.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Lallana said:

“Short term and long term — it’s about winning. Since I’ve been here we’ve come ‘close’ — so we aren’t a million miles away. In my first season we reached the semifinals of both domestic cups, and last season we reached two finals, including a European final.”

“This season another semifinal and obviously we’re right in there in the Premier League shake-up. So we’ve been ‘close’, but all of us want to actually win things and as many things as we can. The gaffer is a proven winner and we all trust him completely. So short and long term it’s about winning trophies for Liverpool.”

Liverpool’s season this term is at risk of ending prematurely, with the Reds having exited both domestic cup competitions in January and slipping down the pecking order in the Premier League, with Klopp’s side having a major battle ahead of them to clinch a top-four spot.

The Reds are particularly desperate to win the league title, something they have not done since 1990, but their form this season suggests they’re still a long way off achieving that ambition.

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Ryan Sessegnon is a name that seems has been on people’s lips around west London for quite a while now, despite his tender age. Touted for success for a number of years, he is reportedly attracting the interest of the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, and it is easy to see why.

Drawing comparisons with Ashley Cole, the 16-year-old first broke into the Fulham first team in August of 2016 – and has impressed ever since. Offering a dynamic balance of defence and attack from the left-hand side of the Fulham defence and midfield, Sessegnon’s path to stardom appears assured.

Indeed, his performance for the Cottagers over the weekend against Newcastle United will have done nothing to harm the interest in him, with an impressive two goals securing a vital three points for Fulham against the league leaders.

In what was undoubtedly his best performance of the season so far, Sessegnon picked up the Man of the Match award – and with good reason.

Perhaps most remarkable thing about his performance was the lethality of his strikes. He had just two shots on the day, both on target – and both hitting the back of the net. Indeed, Sessegnon is clearly a deadly figure on the left-hand side, and that will certainly be something that the likes of United and Chelsea will recognise.

His performance goes far beyond just his goals, though, with 48 touches, three crosses and a passing accuracy of 75% maintaining his role as more than just a goalscorer for the Craven Cottage outfit. Despite his youth and relative lack of experience, his teammates clearly trust him to get the job done – and with stats like this, that looks justified.

Certainly, this display will not have gone unnoticed by the top Premier League clubs searching for his signature, and his ability to seamlessly switch from left-back to left-wing will certainly attract further interest. Fulham face a tough test to hold on to their star youngster this summer.

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According to reports in Bild, West Ham United are lining up a move for Hamburg centre-back and former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou.

The 30-year-old looks set to leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer with his contract due to run out at the end of the season, and Irons manager Slaven Bilic is said to be keen on bringing the former Gunners man back to the Premier League.

Despite signing Jose Fonte from Southampton during the January transfer window, the east London outfit’s defensive frailties don’t appear to have been fixed in recent weeks and Bilic is ready to dip into the market one again.

However, it is not a rumour that seems to have gone down well with Irons fans, who seem to be largely underwhelmed with the link to the Swiss centre-half, mainly because he wouldn’t cost anything.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reactions from Hammers supporters…

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The Daily Express reported on Tuesday that West Ham United joint-owners David Sullivan and David Gold were looking to sell their stakes in the club, but the former has moved to quash those rumours.

The story suggested that the duo have been looking for potential investors to come into the club for more than a year, but that their plans were put on hold as Slaven Bilic’s side slipped closer to the Premier League relegation zone in recent weeks.

Their five-match losing run in the top flight came to an end on Saturday when they beat Swansea City 1-0 at the London Stadium, which left them eight points above the bottom three.

However, Sullivan has told whufc.com that the story isn’t true.

He said: “It is no secret that both David Gold and I see our long term futures as custodians of West Ham United.

“It disappoints me to see an article published that is so utterly false.”

Irons supporters were quick to have their say on Sullivan’s statement via social media, with the majority disappointed that the original rumours haven’t proved to be right as they believe the current hierarchy are dragging the club down.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction to the news…