on the opening day of the 2015–16 premier league, defoe scored in a 4–2 loss at leicester city, meaning he had scored in 15 premier league seasons. on 25 august, he scored a hat-trick in a 6–3 home win over exeter city in the second round of the league cup. defoe then scored twice in sunderland's opening match of 2016, a 3–1 defeat of aston villa on 2 january. in the team's next league fixture, he scored a hat-trick against swansea city in a 4–2 win at the liberty stadium. on 6 february, defoe scored an 89th-minute equaliser against liverpool as sunderland came from 2–0 down to draw the match. on 16 march, defoe opened the scoring away to newcastle as the tyne–wear derby was drawn 1–1. on 16 april 2016, defoe scored sunderland's second goal in a crucial 3–0 away victory over fellow strugglers norwich, which left sunderland one point from safety. on 7 may 2016, defoe scored the winning goal against chelsea, moving sunderland out of the bottom three, and taking his premier league tally to 15 for the season. defoe was part of the sunderland squad on the matchday when they secured their premier league status with a 3–0 home win over everton on 11 may 2016.