Jordan Henderson backs Sam Allardyce to save Sunderland

Sunderland and Liverpool will play their nineteenth game of the Premier League season at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, 30th December.

Before Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 league victory over high-flying Leicester City on Saturday, the Reds had picked up one point from three games, including shock defeats by Newcastle United and Watford.

“It’s that toughness you need in the game and then you build from that and with the quality you have in the team you are then going to get chances and score”.

“You need to have three or four players who fight for this and two or three who think “we can get this” and now we can start playing”.

“We have to use his natural skills and he has to try to be more involved in the game, that’s all, and then we can make steps together”.

Klopp, whose side are 10th in the table, has emphasised the importance of securing three points against Sunderland rather than trying to “show how football should be”.

There’s no doubting that Sunderland are a better team on their own patch than they are away from home.

“We want to develop and get more points in these very important moments in the league”.

Liverpool are likely to be without striker Divock Origi for Wednesday’s match.

The Lads will be hoping to end 2015 on a high note after suffering defeats in the Barclays Premier League either side of Christmas at Chelsea and Manchester City.

His injury against Bournemouth in August and subsequent absence was all the more hard for Henderson to take given he has been one of the club’s most ever presents during his four full seasons at Anfield. I’m taking Liverpool -1 on the handicap as I think the reds put in a big performance here and the two extra days rest will do them the world of good.

Klopp has admitted it would take a “miracle” for Origi to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered during the Leicester contest and he is expected to join frontman Daniel Sturridge on the sidelines as he works his way back to match fitness from a similar problem.

Winger Jordon Ibe could return following illness, but defender Martin Skrtel and midfielder James Milner, who is due to return to training on Tuesday, are still missing.