Merino: Magpies want to enter break with three points in the bag

Sports Writer NEWCASTLE United have “no intention” of losing to Southampton next weekend and will aim to head into their three-week fixture gap with a “good mentality”, says Mikel Merino.

The Magpies fell to a 2-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, with goals from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane condemning Newcastle to defeat.

But Rafa Benitez’s side have back-toback matches at St James’ Park against relegation rivals Southampton and Huddersfield Town, albeit 21 days apart.

With Newcastle’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur postponed due to their presence in the FA Cup quarter-finals, United have a free weekend in a fortnight’s time, followed by the international break.

And, while Benitez is exploring the possibility of Newcastle playing a friendly during the break, Merino insists the Magpies will do all they can to head into it with a morale-boosting three points.

“We have a three-week break and it is always good to pick up a good result at a time like that,” said Merino (inset right).

“If you have a defeat, you have a lot of time to dwell on it.

“It is the worst thing to do, you have so much time to think about it, but we have no intention of losing it.

“We want to go into the break with a good mentality. Every game is important and we try to approach every one with the same mentality – but maybe the next two games at home are a little bit easier than this one.

“Those teams are maybe not at the high level of Liverpool but we know the way we have to play is the same as we played against Manchester United and Bournemouth.”