Le Bris Praises Xhaka’s Significant Influence on Sunderland

Regis Le Bris has praised Granit Xhaka’s significant influence on Sunderland as the team prepares to face Everton on Monday. Sunderland has made an impressive start in the Premier League, suffering just two losses since their promotion. Currently, they sit in a strong position with 17 points, marking their best start to a season since 1999-00.

Granit Xhaka’s Leadership

Xhaka has been pivotal for Sunderland, playing every minute so far and contributing three assists. His presence on the field is felt by both teammates and opponents. Le Bris highlighted Xhaka’s ability to manage the game, saying, “To be competitive at that level, you need to own the performance on the pitch.”

Le Bris noted, “Granit helps a lot because he can manage elements on the pitch. He leads by example, giving the team faith and belief.” Xhaka’s confidence during critical matches, such as against Chelsea, reinforces this sentiment.

Sunderland’s Current Form

• Points: 17 from 9 matches
• Wins: 5
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 2

The last two games saw Sunderland secure victories against Wolves and Chelsea. The team aims for three consecutive Premier League wins, a feat they haven’t achieved since May 2014.

Everton’s Struggles

On the other hand, Everton finds themselves in 15th place, having lost their last two matches. They recently faced a defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Tottenham, leading to pressing concerns regarding their attacking performance.

• Top Scorer: Iliman Ndiaye with two goals
• Other Scorers: Beto and Thierno Barry

Manager David Moyes is considering adjustments to the squad. He commented, “If I think I’m not getting what I want, I’ll look to see what else there is.” This hints at potential changes in their setup to increase efficiency in front of goal.

Key Players to Watch

• Sunderland: Wilson Isidor – Top scorer with four goals in nine games.
• Everton: Jack Grealish – Leads the league with 28 fouls won and 19 chances created from open play.

Match Prediction

Historically, Everton has had the upper hand against Sunderland. They won both of their last Premier League encounters in the 2016-17 season. However, their recent visits to Sunderland have been challenging, with just two wins in their last eight attempts at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland’s solid performance this season sets the stage for an exciting match. Their successful track record and Xhaka’s influential presence could play a crucial role in determining the outcome. Current win probability estimates show:

As Sunderland looks to continue their strong momentum, all eyes will be on Granit Xhaka and his ability to lead the Black Cats against Everton.