Landmark goals for Haaland, Kane

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Erling Haaland’s goals are propelling Manchester City towards a treble of trophies.

Harry Kane, meanwhile, seems powerless to stop Tottenham’s slide.

English football’s two most prolific strikers both scored landmark goals yesterday.

But, while Haaland’s 50th in all competitions this season helped City to go top of the table, Kane’s 208th goal in the Premier League could not prevent Spurs from a third loss in four games, albeit in the most dramatic fashion in a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool.

Kane is now tied with Wayne Rooney as the Premier League’s second-highest scorer of all time, behind only Alan Shearer on 260.

Trophies, however, continue to elude Kane, even in a season when he has become the all-time record scorer for England and Tottenham.

It is a different story for Haaland, who seems destined to end his first year at City with both silverware and individual honours.

The Norwegian’s third-minute penalty in City’s 2-1 win at Fulham saw him score his 34th Premier League goal of the season to tie the record jointly held by Shearer and Andy Cole. While their totals were in 42-game seasons, Haaland’s goals have come in a 38-game campaign in which the Norwegian still has six more matches to set a new benchmark in English football’s top flight.

Haaland scored a third-minute penalty, with Carlos Vinicius equalising for Fulham in the 15th. Julian Alvarez scored the winner in the 36th.

The defending champions moved a point ahead of long-time leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand.

“Congratulations to Erling, but the best goals (are) the ones to help us achieve our goals this season,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.

LEADING THE ATTACK

Had Guardiola been successful in his pursuit of Kane in the summer of 2021, the Tottenham striker might have already ended his search for a first major trophy of his career.

Instead, Haaland is the man leading City’s attack and its charge towards the title, the Champions League and FA Cup.

Kane has scored 28 goals this season, despite Tottenham unravelling in recent months, with just two wins from their last 11 games.

He volleyed in his 25th league goal to spark an unlikely comeback against Liverpool after Spurs had gone 3-0 down inside 15 minutes at Anfield.

Richarlison headed an equaliser to make it 3-3 in stoppage time, only for Diogo Jota to score the winner almost immediately after.

Other results: Manchester United 1; Aston Villa 0; Bournemouth 4; Leeds 1; Newcastle 3; Southampton 1.