Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has said that midfielder Sebastian Larsson is one of the "best players" in the Premier League.
The Black Cats eased their relegation worries with a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday which moved them six points clear of the drop zone.
Di Canio told reporters: "At the end, to be honest, we suffered a bit but they didn't have any clear chances - apart from the backpass by Sebastian.
"That can happen but I did much worse when I used to play, so it's not an issue because Seb delivered another fantastic effort in the middle of the field, quality.
"He's one of the best players, not only here but in the Premier League."
Larsson has made 37 appearances for Sunderland this season in all competitions, scoring one goal.
