Diame: We are not too far away

MO Diame does not believe Newcastle United are too far away from netting the wins they need to book their place in the Premier League for next season.

The former Senegal international admits the campaign has been far from perfect after the Magpies spluttered to home draws meaning their wait for survival is still on going.

However, speaking after United’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, Diame told the Chronicle: “The team needs to stay confident and believe in what we are doing.

“There are little details we need to change.

“We must make sure we are focused because we have dropped too many points already.

“We have been winning in some games and ended up drawing at the last minute.

“We just have to keep going and stay focused from the first minute until the end.”

Newcastle go into battle against Southampton this weekend with Mauricio Pellegrino’s men desperate for victory too.

Diame added: “They are in the same situation as us so it is a massive game.

“We need to give everything on the pitch.

“We knew it would be tough at Liverpool and that they would start sharply and with a good tempo.

“We had a game plan and we tried to stick together.

“We wanted to keep the shape and have a counter-attack to try to score.”

Newcastle will look to sign off with a win ahead of their 21-day fixture gap in good spirits.

Diame went on: “We don’t think about the fixture gap, this is a massive game.

“It is massive for us - it is like a final we must win.”

Diame almost staged a fightback for Newcastle at Anfield with a shot was kept out by Loris Karius - a moment which Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp described as a game-changer.

Diame said: “It was definitely a good save.

“The goalkeeper did well and we stayed 1-0 down, it would have been very good for us going in at half-time level.

“Unfortunately it did not happen.

“So we have to forget it now and move on to the next one.”