Son was Tottenham’s hero as he netted a cool winner late in the second half to give his side a slender advantage to protect in next week’s second leg in Manchester.

It was an impressive display of resilience from Mauricio Pochettino’s men after star striker Kane limped off with his latest ankle problem early in the second half.

Hugo Lloris also deserved plaudits for saving Sergio Aguero’s first-half penalty, laying the foundations for Son’s 78th-minute strike and inspiring the South Korean to hail their togetherness.

“Not just me but as a team, we never give up for 90 minutes. We fight,” Son said.

“It was a very difficult game and in the end, we were more clinical than them.”

Son had scored the first goal in Tottenham’s new ground in their Premier League win over Crystal Palace last week.

Six days later, he was once again the toast of the 62,062 crowd.

“I like this stadium, it is amazing to play here, I am grateful for the opportunity to play at this stadium,” Son said.

While Tottenham have control of the tie, Son warned that they will need another herculean effort to knock out City at the Etihad Stadium on April 17.

“It will be very tough, but we performed well, we fight well,” he said.

“We should just enjoy like we did today and fight altogether.”

City’s bid to win an unprecedented quadruple is now under threat after another tired display.

It appeared the strain of competing on four fronts might be taking its toll on City as they followed a lethargic FA Cup semi-final win over Brighton with this tepid effort.

But City manager Pep Guardiola insisted his players had done enough to deserve a draw and are more than capable of mounting a fightback in the second leg.

“We created chances, more than the penalty. Except for a few set-pieces and some counter-attacks, we controlled the game,” Guardiola said.

“When we are not good I say so, but I don’t have that feeling.

“The result is not the best one but we have to make these kind of comebacks to go through.

“We have the second leg. It looks complicated but we will try.

“We are going to try at home, with our fans, with our families. The situation is what it is.”

Far from the late drama that has accompanied the Red’s Premier League title bid of late, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino struck inside the first 26 minutes to put the hosts in command.

“2-0 is a really good result, I would have taken it before the game and I take it now,” said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

“It was a good game, a controlled game. We deserved the win 100 percent and scored two wonderful goals.”

Liverpool’s only regret may be not building a more emphatic lead to take to Portugal for next week’s second leg.

However, a fourth clean sheet in five home Champions League games this season means an away goal at the Estadio do Dragao on April 17th will leave Porto needing four to progress.

“We have to go there, we have to fight, Porto will do everything to strike back but that’s how it should be in the Champions League quarter-finals,” added Klopp.

Liverpool thrashed the Portuguese giants 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie last season and the scoreline could have been just as embarrassing for Sergio Conceicao’s men had the hosts been more accurate in front of goal.

It took the hosts just five minutes to open the scoring as Keita got his second goal in as many games having waited nine months to open his Liverpool account.

The Guinean got the benefit of a big deflection off Oliver Torres as his strike from the edge of the area left veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas helpless.

Mohamed Salah ended his eight-game goal drought as Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win at Southampton on Friday, but the Egyptian got his angles wrong when he failed to double the hosts’ lead with just Casillas to beat moments later.

– Porto’s slack defending –

Conceicao was visibly furious with his side’s slack defending, but Porto could easily have got back into the tie when Alisson Becker saved well with his feet from Moussa Marega.

Liverpool then had to survive a VAR review for a potential handball against Trent Alexander-Arnold as Alisson palmed the ball into his full-back.

Soon, though, Alexander-Arnold was helping twist the knife into Porto at the other end with his eighth assist of the season.

Jordan Henderson, playing in a more advanced midfield position than normal, cut the visitors’ defence open for the England international to square for Firmino to tap into an empty net.

“Hendo is a brilliant player and I’m really happy he can show that again,” said Klopp.

“He likes that position so it is my fault he played for one-and-a-half years as the holding player, but we needed him there.”

Only a matter of centimetres denied Liverpool a third early in the second half when another excellent Henderson allowed Sadio Mane to volley home, but the Senegalese was flagged offside.

The fine balance Liverpool must strike in maintaining their quest for European glory while also trying to end a 29-year wait for a league title was in evidence as Klopp withdrew Mane and Firmino in the final quarter with one eye on Sunday’s Premier League visit of Chelsea.

However, that proved a luxury that Liverpool could afford to take as they look set for a second Champions League semi-final in as many years.

This would benefit families and youngsters, as well as encourage good health and pride in the Kingdom, he said, pointing out that he was already “walking the walk”, having launched 12 major projects since he took office six months ago.

Addressing the media at SAT Headquarters in Hua Mark, Kongsak said that under his leadership, a more proactive approach to effective sports sciences had been implemented at both players and sports associations levels to enhance the country’s sports standards.

One of his 12 projects is to build a state-of-the-art National Training Centre in the Smart National Sports Park within the Hua Mark Sports Complex which will serve as training facilities for up to 20 sports and is accessible by the BTS Skytrain.

“The first centre will be here at the Sports Authority of Thailand in Hua Mark and then more centres will be built in the provinces. This will play a part in making Thailand the sports hub of the region,” said the 46-year-old governor.

Kongsak claimed that the National Training Centre, which will also be open to the public, will feature a sports mall, sports school and places for e-sports, music, arts and food to attract youngsters and their families for recreational use.

The SAT chief also said after overseas study trips to Japan, South Korea, Germany and Qatar, sports science data had been gathered by a sub-committee assigned to oversee a top-quality sports science development programme, including training, physiology, psychology and diet.

SAT’s 12 projects consist of a Smart National Sports Park, Smart sports science centre, Sports Law centre, Smart Organisation, Sports Big Data, Sports Tourism, Sports City, Sports Entertainment and Sports Expo, Sports for Disabilities, Sports Lotto, Thai traditional sports and other sports in 5 southern provinces (full details outlined below).

“If these 12 main projects are implemented, they can generate an income of over Bt10 billion a year for the country,” the governor said.

Kongsak also has plans to renovate main stadiums in Thailand which are the Rajamangala National Stadium, Chiang Mai 700th Anniversary Stadium, His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima and Phu Khangkhao stadium in Songkhla.

Sports celebrities also took part in yesterday’s press conference – they included Pleumjit Thinkaow , the captain of the Thai women’s volleyball team, former Moto2 racer Ratthapark Wilairot and members of pop girl band BNK48.

“Having trained at the Sports Authority of Thailand for many years, I know we are inferior to other countries in many areas, including training equipment, doctors, foods and psychology,” Pluemjit said. “We need more sports science because they are essential in strengthening the players.”

SAT’s 12 projects

1.Smart National Sports Park

In an attempt to upgrade the services for the public, the National Training Centre (NTC) will be built in the compound of the Sports Authority of Thailand, Hua Mark.  It will also feature a sports complex featuring music, arts and sports museums as well as a health community, where people of all ages can exercise.

2. Smart sports science centre

This will also feature a sports hospital

3. Sports Law

The law department is to revise all the laws and educate staff about current legislation.

4. Smart Organisation

Thailand Quality Award (TQA) will be used to benefit the organisation based on good governance.

5. Sports Big Data

The database of the players, sportspeople and all aspects of sports science must be improved.

6. Sports Tourism

In order to boost the country’s economy, the SAT will support hosting international sports events and set its sight on becoming a hub for international sports events in the future.

7.Sports City

There will be a designated “sports city” in every region so that each city or province can have the best possible better chance for improvement.

8. Sports Entertainment and Sports Expo

The National Games or the National Youth Games will be developed in line with international standards. The light and sound systems are going to be used to make the Games more interesting.

9. Sports for Disabilities

The disabled players must be provided with a good management, a training centre and the stadium. They should also be given a chance to join the competition on regular basis.

10. Sports Lotto

Hosting fundraising events to support the nation’s sports

11.Thai Traditional Sports

Supporting Thai traditional sports – this will generate an income for the players, who will also be proud of representing the country.

12. Sports in 5 southern provinces

To strengthen relationships among youngsters in five southern provinces and encourage them to get involved in sports.

The 21-year-old clocked one hour and 19 minutes to dominate the 67km third stage which ran from Chiang Mai downtown via Sankam Phaeng district to Huay Kaew Arboretum.

Campbell whose previous win occured in Colombia last July settled at third in the Monday’s stage.

Coming at second was Marlen Reusser of Switzerland with Thi Thi Nguyen of Vietnam finishing third.

Thai hope Jutatip Maneephan, the first stage winner, took the fifth position. She, however, still remained on top in the individual general classification following a time of 3:48:56 hours, three seconds ahead of Campbell.

The third and final stage (83.80km) will start on Wednesday’s morning in Chiang Mai.

– Rory McIlroy –

The 29-year-old from Northern Ireland hopes to complete a career Grand Slam by winning his first Masters title. His first major win came at the 2011 US Open — just two months after a final-round collapse cost him a victory at Augusta National. World number three McIlroy went on to win the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships and the 2014 British Open. He will have a starring role when the British Open is played in July at Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush and would love to be there wearing a green jacket, the symbol of a Masters champion. He won the Players Championship last month and has opened the year with seven top-10 finishes in a row.

– Tiger Woods –

The 43-year-old American has won 14 major titles, four of them at the Masters but none since the 2008 US Open. He’s back in good health after spinal fusion surgery that ended years of injury woes. Former world number one Woods, now ranked 12th, was second at the 2018 PGA Championship, his best major showing since a runner-up effort to South Korean Yang Yong-eun at the 2009 PGA. He won his 80th career PGA Tour title, two shy of matching Sam Snead’s all-time record, at the 2018 Tour Championship and reached the last eight at the WGC Match-Play Championship last month.

– Justin Rose –

The 38-year-old Englishman has been a runner-up in two of the past four Masters, losing a playoff to Spain’s Sergio Garcia in 2017 and firing the lowest second-place score in Masters history along with Phil Mickelson in 2015 behind winner Jordan Spieth. Rose took his most recent title in January at Torrey Pines. The 2013 US Open champion also shared second at last year’s British Open. Returned to world number one on Monday, overtaking Dustin Johnson. Has been in the top 15 in seven of the past eight years at the Masters.

– Phil Mickelson –

The US left-hander, a five-time major champion who turns 49 in June, would become the oldest major golf winner if he captures a fourth green jacket after 2004, 2006 and 2010. Julius Boros owns the eldest major winner mark after winning won the 1968 PGA Championship at age 48. And Jack Nicklaus is the oldest Masters champion, winning at 46 in 1986 for the last of his all-time record 18 major titles. Mickelson, ranked 22nd, also won the 2005 PGA Championship and 2013 British Open and is a six-time runner-up at the US Open. He’ll try to complete the career Grand Slam in June at Pebble Beach, where he won the PGA Pebble Beach Pro-Am for the fifth time in February. Mickelson was second at the Masters as recently as 2015.

– Brooks Koepka –

The 28-year-old American has not played the Masters since becoming a major champion but the man who won two of the past three majors looks set for a top-10 showing at Augusta National this week. Koepka did win the 2017 and 2018 US Open titles and held off Tiger Woods in an electric atmosphere to win his third major crown at the 2018 PGA Championship. But he missed last year’s Masters with a left wrist injury that kept him out from early January to late April. Fourth-ranked Koepka has improved in each visit to the Masters, going from 33rd in his 2015 debut to 21st in 2016 and 11th in 2017. His most recent win came last October in South Korea.

The image of Lionel Messi’s partner-in-chief has been defined by his darker side, a relentless, ferocious and, occasionally, misguided opponent, running defenders ragged for the best part of a decade.

When Barca’s coach Ernesto Valverde is asked about the threat posed by Suarez, the description he oftens reverts to is “un dolor de cabeza”. A headache.

Suarez’s reputation as one of the game’s arch-villains is entrenched, perhaps nowhere deeper than in England, where he was found guilty of racial abuse for calling United’s Patrice Evra “negrito” in 2011 and, a season later, sank his teeth into the arm of Chelsea‘s Branislav Ivanovic.

Suarez was suspended for a combined 18 matches and there were two further bites, on Otman Bakkal in 2010 and Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

Suarez returns to Old Trafford on Wednesday in the last 16 of the Champions League, the tournament Barcelona crave success in this season more than any other.

Two months before his clash with Chiellini, Suarez had been named the Premier League’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year and won the division’s Golden Boot award after scoring 31 goals for Liverpool.

In four seasons at Anfield, he hit 82 goals in 133 games, a ratio better than both Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie at Arsenal, Alan Shearer at Newcastle and Didier Drogba at Chelsea.

For Barcelona, who paid Liverpool just over 80 million euros to sign Suarez in 2014, his contribution has been clouded less by indiscipline and more by Messi, the player around whom the whole team revolves.

Suarez is Messi’s provider, runner and foil but has managed to perform the role without losing sight of what he can bring too.

– Long away drought in Europe –

Karim Benzema delivered 11 and five league goals in his last two seasons in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo but in five years at Barca, Suarez’s La Liga tally reads 27, 35, 35, 33 and 30, the last still with seven games to play.

There have been barren spells, often in the late summer months, when fitness has been lacking, and in the Champions League, where Suarez faces United hunting only his second goal in 17 games. He has not scored away from Camp Nou in the tournament since September 2015.

“It’s one of those things, a coincidence,” said Valverde.

But few can dispute Suarez’s part in what is now one of the most dominant eras in the history of Spanish football.

Messi’s talent stands alone but his partnership with Suarez, a close personal friend, is extraordinary too.

Together they have 66 goals in all competitions this season, 43 for Messi and 23 for Suarez, while in the league they have 53, more than every team in the division, except Real Madrid.

When Messi broke his arm in October and Barca were forced to manage without the Argentinian, Suarez stepped up, scoring six times in five games.

They are now within touching distance of their eighth La Liga title in 11 years, secured, surely, by their 2-0 win over Atletico last weekend, in which Suarez scored the opener in the 85th minute.

It was a curling, long-range shot into the corner, the first that goalkeeper Jan Oblak had conceded from outside the box all season, after 30 previous attempts. “We could only have scored with a goal like that one by Suarez,” said Valverde.

With another league title, and perhaps domestic double, on its way, Barcelona can put the Champions League at the front and centre of their run-in. Suarez will be at the heart of it.