Barkley: Everton finishing above Liverpool would be great

Finishing above their Merseyside rivals in the Premier League table is the Toffees midfielder's objective, he has revealed

Ross Barkley wants Everton to finish above Liverpool in the Premier League this season and feels he has responded well to criticism from manager Ronald Koeman.

The Toffees could move to within five points of their local rivals by beating Sunderland at home on Saturday, with Koeman's men unbeaten in the league since losing to Liverpool in December.

Barkley has scored four goals and provided five assists as Everton established themselves in seventh place, but the 23-year-old believes the team can climb above the Reds.

"I'd like that [to finish above Liverpool]," Barkley told Sky Sports. "I'm an Everton supporter so to see us finish higher than them would be great.

"But they're higher than us at the minute and we've obviously got to focus on one game at a time and see where we finish at the end of the season."

Koeman suggested in December Barkley needs to improve if he is to fulfil his potential and the England international believes those comments have spurred him on to more consistent performances.

"I played a lot of games at a young age and I feel like I'm an older player in the side now," he said. "I communicate a lot more on the pitch and in the training room now.

"You can take a bit of criticism from your manager now and then, but you have to react to it which I have done. 

"Earlier in the season, I was a little bit inconsistent and I think I've got to a point now where I understand what I need to do, in games and preparing for games. I'm showing that with more consistency now than I had earlier in the season."

Barkley made headlines by celebrating prior to slotting home his most recent goal against Bournemouth, but the midfielder insists the gesture was not intended to be disrespectful.

"It's something I used to do as a kid and it just happened naturally - it was just instinct," Barkley said. "I knew it was the last minute and I'd rounded the keeper so I knew I was scoring and I had the confidence to celebrate before I scored.

"I was not trying to take the mickey out of Bournemouth, it was just more the enjoyment of the game."

Klopp think success at Liverpool is a prior to further his job

Adam Lallana on extending his contract with Liverpool

Klopp talks about bringing new players at the summer

Liverpool poised to beat Manchester United to signing of France youth star Yasser Larouci

Great character against Tottenham and now we have to make sure we are consistent with it. - Jordan Henderson

Klopp impressed by his team performance against Spurs

Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan thank Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool linked with another La Liga star

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Tottenham PL 2017

'Liverpool must splash the cash like Man Utd and Chelsea' - Aldridge

Liverpool summer signing explained the reasons why he wanted Red move

Bad news for Joel Matip as he snubs the chance to win an international tittle to lose against Hull city

Cameroon coach Hugo Broos says Liverpool defender Joel Matip will think 'S***, why didn't I go with them' following their success at the AFCON final

Cameroon celebrates with their Manager Hugo Broos as after winning AFCON 2017

Joel Matip will be left ruing his refusal to join Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations squad, according to manager Hugo Broos.

The Liverpool defender was one of eight players who pulled out of Broos' squad, only for the Indomitable Lions to pull off a remarkable shock and lift the trophy.

And after seeing his team win the final, Broos suggested Matip and his fellow withdrawals might see things differently.

'There was a lot of trouble before, players who wouldn't come with us,' said the Belgian after the final.

'OK, it's their decision. But maybe they are saying now to themselves 'Shit! Why didn't I go with them!?'

Cameroon trailed to Egypt at the break, thanks to a brilliant Mohamed Elneny goal, but an even better strike from Vincent Aboubakar two minutes from time completed a remarkable turnaround from a team few fancied even to make it out of the group stages.

'We came here and I think nobody thought we would go so far,' said Broos.

'We tried to get through the first round. We did it. So we said, OK, let's see what happens against Senegal. We won the game again.

'Then you get a boost of confidence and from that time we believed that if we got a bit lucky we could win the final.

Liverpool FC Joel Matip could feel bad for not joining Cameroon at the African Nations Cup

'We still have to improve. That's proved by the first half. We were not good first half, certainly not the first 25 minutes. So this is something we have to work on.

'We thought from the beginning that Egypt would try to score very quick, but you see we can't control such situations, so there's still a lot to do.'

Jurgen Klopp talks about the reason why the club failed to sign a player in January transfer window

Liverpool could be favorites to sign Aubameyang if they clinch Uefa Champions League spot this season

Jamie Carragher can't see Chelsea being caught in the Premier League title race

Liverpoool Forward Fined and Ban from Driving

Kloop: Diego Costa not a nice guy

Jurgen Klopp says he and Chelsea striker Diego Costa 'could never be friends'

Jurgen Klopp apologises to fourth official for screaming at him after mignolet saved a penalty shot during Liverpool vs Chelsea