Today’s back pages: Klopp’s Liverpool get a Spanish lesson from Atletico Madrid and Spurs are hit by Son injury setback
A round-up of the sport headlines from UK newspapers on 19 February
Spanish lesson
“Saul destroying” is the headline in i Sport with the paper reporting how sloppy defence at a corner meant Liverpool slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
It’s a theme repeated across the back pages, from the Daily Star’s “Jurgen’s Liverpool crack at last” to The Guardian’s “Spanish lesson”.
Saul Niguez’s early goal will give Atletico a precious advantage in the return leg at Anfield next month but what really caught the Guardian’s eye was what it describes as the Spanish side’s “defensive nous” in shutting out their visitors.
The Times captures the frustration of Jurgen Klopp’s side with a photo of an exasperated Mohamed Salah above the headline: “Liverpool finally show they’re human.”
In last night’s other games Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint Germain 2-1.
Tonight’s last-16 first legs see Tottenham Hotspur take on RB Leipzig (8pm, live on BT Sport 2) and Atalanta host Valencia (8pm, live on BT Sport 3).
Welcome to Anfield, Atletico: Klopp is excited for second leg despite defeat in Madrid
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Bad to worse
Most papers find room on their back pages to report the latest blow to befall Tottenham.
Having lost Harry Kane until April with a hamstring injury, Spurs are reeling from the news that Heung-min Son has broken his arm.
The South Korean striker has been in a rich vein of form recently and The Times says Spurs are in “shock” at the news.
Jose Mourinho fears Son could be out for many weeks, the Daily Mirror reports.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s clash against Leipzig, Mourinho admitted: “The situation couldn’t be worse. I was worried about not having attacking options on the bench, now I don’t have attacking options on the pitch.”
Front row change
Independent and The Guardian report on the withdrawal of Mako Vunipola from England’s Six Nations clash with Ireland on Sunday at Twickenham.
The Saracens loosehead prop has returned to Tonga for “personal reasons” and his place in the 33-man squad has been taken by Bath’s Beno Obano.
The Indy says that head coach Eddie Jones will probably name Joe Marler in his starting XV with super sub Ellis Genge - who scored the all-important try in the win against Scotland - kept on the bench until the second half.
Today’s sport headlines
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