CLARET TOM: LIONS RECALL IS MY TARGET
Klopp tells his men to stay cool as he believes the title will go to the team that doesn’t panic
TOM HEATON admits even he is surprised by the transformation in his career over the last couple of months.
The goalkeeper was ready to quit Burnley in January because he was so frustrated sitting on the bench before he won back the No.1 spot.
Sean Dyche recalled him in place of Joe Hart after the Clarets’ 5-1 Boxing Day mauling by Everton and he has seized his unexpected opportunity.
Heaton helped Burnley record an eight-match unbeaten run – the Clarets’ best in the Premier League – to haul them clear of the drop zone and leave himself on the brink of an England recall.
“Have I been surprised by how quickly it’s turned on its head here?” he said ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Liverpool. “Yeah, a little bit.
“I’m delighted with everything. To get back in the team was the first marker.
“The run of results, it was great to be involved in that. It’s been a nice journey, but I’m hoping I’ve still got more to give.
“An England call-up is out of my hands, but I’d be delighted if it comes. I still harbour massive ambitions.”
Aston Villa wanted Heaton in January and he admits he did consider his future.
“I certainly had a few question marks because I wasn’t playing,” added Heaton, who now wants to extend his Clarets contract, which ends in June 2020. “But I’ve seen that football can change really quickly.” JURGEN KLOPP has urged his players to hold their nerve as the title race hots up.
After dropping points against Manchester United and Everton, Liverpool have been accused of bottling it as they bid to end a 29-year wait for the title.
But Klopp believes that if the Mersey men can stay calm while the pressure rises, they will be crowned champions in May.
The Reds entertain Burnley tomorrow just a single point behind Manchester City with nine games to go.
Bookies make City red-hot favourites to retain their crown but Klopp fancies Liverpool’s chances – and says that they will resist the urge to throw caution to the wind until the last couple of matches.
“We are not in a bad position,” he said. “To cope with all situations in the season, that is the art. And if you do that you are in a position that pretty much all the other teams want to be in.
“If there is a final match and we go for it, wonderful. If there are two matches, wonderful. But we have nine matches and if we go against Burnley with all we have – and give them the chance to score – then they defend like they can, then that makes life quite uncomfortable.”
Critics have said Klopp hasn’t been bold enough in recent games.
After the
0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison, he exploded in the post- match press conference when quizzed about his apparent lack of ambition.
He remains convinced that to panic and change things at the first setback will undermine everything his squad have worked for.
“Look. I was a bit disappointed (with that question) because we don’t play PlayStation football,” he said.
“It is a sign of desperation to say, ‘try that way. Oh it doesn’t work, so let’s try this way.’ The target is to win the game, not to go nuts in the game. That means we don’t throw 11 players in their box, hope we score, and meet them at the halfway line. That is not how it works.”
Liverpool have lost only one Premier League game all season, compared to four defeats for City, but four draws in their last six have seen them knocked off top spot.
Tottenham and Chelsea still have to come to Anfield, while City’s most testing time will come in late April when they play Spurs at home and Manchester United away.
Klopp hit back at suggestions he has lost faith in Kop midfielders Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri, who rarely get a place in the Liverpool starting line-up.
“There are only three positions (in midfield). Somebody has to be left out but it’s all good. They are all fit and we can use them all,” he said. “It is about what is needed individually for the next opponent. It is not that we think about only one system.”