Liverpool got the New Year off to the best of possible starts on Wednesday by defeating Sunderland 3-0 at Anfield to move up to eighth place in the Premier League. First-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez put Brendan Rodgers’ men firmly in the driving seat and Suarez added a third in the second half to seal a comfortable win. For Sunderland it was a second straight defeat and it saw the Black Cats stay just four points above the drop zone to pile pressure on Martin O’ Neil.