Sunderland ended a run of three wins from four games with a disappointing 3-0 defeat the Liberty Stadium, a result that moves David Moyes’ side back to the foot of the table.

A Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty was followed by two goals from Spanish striker Fernando Llorente and with him firing in goals Swansea should survive the drop this term; they are even money from 4/5 with BetVictor to be relegated to the Championship.

Bottom of Premier League on Christmas Day

Sunderland 13/8; Hull 7/4; Swansea 7/4

The Black Cats were cut to 8/15 for the drop and host Chelsea midweek, before hosting Watford at the weekend.

The Blues are 1/3 favourites with BetVictor win on Wednesday night, the hosts 9/1 to cause an upset and 9/2 the draw, but Saturday’s game with Watford should prove a much more lucrative affair and I expect Sunderland to go close against the Hornets; the Black Cats 9/5, the visitors 13/8 and the draw 5/2.

Newcastle ended something of a sticky patch beating Birmingham 4-0 at St James’ Park on Saturday. Dwight Gayle netted a second hat-trick of the campaign and after taking his tally to 16 goals in 16 Championship games is the new 1/5 favourite to be the league’s leading marksman this term.

Gayle’s tally matches that of Wigan Athletic and Newcastle are 4/5 favourites to follow-up at the DW Stadium on Wednesday; the Latics 5/1 and the draw 7/2.

Rafa Benitez’s side face another side promoted from League One last term when travelling to Burton Albion at the weekend and are odds-on to pick up a further three points; the Magpies 8/11 favourites with BetVictor, Nigel Clough’s men 4s and the draw 3/1.

The less said about Hartlepool the better, with fans left mystified by the side’s performance in Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at home to Cambridge.

BetVictor have cut Craig Hignett’s side to 9/2 from 6/1 for the drop and they are likely to shorten even further when 6/1 underdogs at Fratton Park next Saturday; Pompey 4/9 favourites and 17/5 the draw.

For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com - be lucky