Jamie Carragher was stuffed with praise for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, before and after he scored within the 1-1 draw with Everton on Monday night.
The Black Cats continued their impressive begin to the season with some extent against the Toffees, on an evening which looked prefer it was going to be very difficult for them.
Iliman Ndiaye scored an excellent opener for the visitors on the Stadium of Light after quarter-hour, with Everton dominating the competition early on.
Nevertheless, Sunderland worked their way back into the sport and Xhaka scored an equaliser immediately after the interval as his shot deflected past Jordan Pickford.
It was a Man of the Match performance from the Swiss midfielder, which got here as no surprise to Carragher as he named him the signing of the season before kick-off.
‘He have to be the signing of the season,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports.
‘Once you think of somebody who’s influential on their team, I’ve been calling Manchester City the Erling Haaland team, but is there anyone at once within the Premier League having a much bigger influence on their club than Granit Xhaka? There can’t be.
‘A completely good signing to date.’
After the ultimate whistle, the Liverpool legend added: ‘For me I assumed Granit Xhaka was absolutely incredible again.
‘Not only the goal but head and shoulders above almost everybody on that pitch tonight.’
Granit Xhaka Premier League stats
Apps: 235
Goals: 18
Assists: 27
The 33-year-old made 297 appearances for Arsenal from 2016-23 before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen where he won the Bundesliga under Xabi Alonso.
He admits a return to the English top flight was a surprise, however the project at newly-promoted Sunderland was an appealing one.
‘I didn’t expect to come back back to the Premier League after I went to Germany but in football you never know where you land,’ he said after scoring his first Sunderland goal.
‘After two years in Germany were I had lots of good things with titles, gives you lots of confidence with a coach like Xabi Alonso. He was the identical player like myself on a six position, who gave me many advice, possibly higher than me on the pitch.
‘But to be back makes me joyful. I knew precisely the project from the club. To bring the experience and the standard and to point out the fellows day-to-day working. I hope I will help them. We’ve one objective, to present every part day-to-day, game by game and see where we land.’
The Black Cats climbed back as much as fourth with the purpose and Xhaka was thrilled to contribute with a goal.
‘It makes me joyful all the time to attain and help the team,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘Everyone knows I’m not a man to attain 10 goals in a season, but I all the time try to present every part on the pitch, try to present them the fight, mentality on the pitch, and the goal was slightly little bit of luck.
‘I’m very joyful to attain my first goal for this amazing football club and to assist the team.’
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