Larsson produced a "25-yard thunderbolt" as his first goal of the 2012–13 Premier League season against West Ham United on 12 January 2013 in a 3–0 win. He provided the assist for Stéphane Sessègnon's goal in Sunderland's 1–0 defeat of Everton on 20 April, pushing the club clear of the relegation zone. The strike against West Ham proved to be Larsson's only goal of the campaign, a season in which was underwhelming on both individual and club levels as Sunderland barely managed to avoid relegation.