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Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage in London, on April 30.Kin Cheung/The Associated Press

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

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

English soccer’s two most prolific strikers both scored landmark goals on Sunday.

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 soccer’s top flight.

Crucially, those goals are edging City ever closer to the title.

Haaland scored a third-minute penalty, with Carlos Vinicius equalizing 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.

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 toward 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 its past 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 equalizer to make it 3-3 in stoppage time, only for Diogo Jota to score the winner almost immediately after.

It left Kane having to front up to explain the latest setback after last week’s humiliating 6-1 loss to Newcastle.

“It was a dreadful start in the first 20 minutes, it’s not the first time it’s happened this season. We need to start understanding big games better,” Kane said. “The table doesn’t lie, where we are doesn’t lie. We’ve got some fantastic players and had moments, but as a team we aren’t playing good enough collectively.”

Champions League calling

Bruno Fernandes scored the winner that moved Manchester United closer to Champions League qualification. The Portugal international struck in the 39th to seal a 1-0 win against Aston Villa at Old Trafford that leaves fourth-place United seven points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand. Having already won the League Cup, United has also secured an FA Cup final showdown against Manchester City in June.

Klopp suffers injury

As Jota struck a late winner in Liverpool’s victory against Tottenham, Jurgen Klopp could not contain himself on the sidelines. But the German coach was forced to cut his celebrations after appearing to pull his hamstring when joyously greeting the goal. Klopp held the back of his leg and hobbled as the rest of Anfield erupted. “I’m not sure it’s a hamstring. It could be an adductor as well. It’s painful,” Klopp said. Curtis Jones, Luiz Diaz and Mohamed Salah all scored inside 15 minutes for Liverpool, but Kane and Son Heung-min set up a dramatic finish. Richarlison equalized in stoppage time, before Jota’s winner. A fourth straight win moved Liverpool up to fifth in the table and in position for Europa League qualification.

Newcastle wins another

When Stuart Armstrong fired bottom-of-the-table Southampton ahead against Newcastle, it looked like another potential twist in the fight for survival. But two goals from Callum Wilson and a Theo Walcott own-goal secured a 3-1 win for Champions League-chasing Newcastle, ending any chance of an unlikely victory for the Saints.

Barcelona wins women’s Spanish league

Alexia Putellas made her long-awaited return from injury to help Barcelona clinch its fourth straight women’s Spanish league title on Sunday. Putellas came off the bench in the 74th minute after being sidelined for nearly 10 months because of an ACL injury. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner had returned to the squad for the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Chelsea on Thursday but did not play. Barcelona advanced to its third straight final in the European competition. Barcelona beat Sporting Huelva 3-0 at home on Sunday to maintain its perfect record – 26 games, 26 wins – and secure its eighth league title with four games to spare. It has an insurmountable 10-point lead over second-place Real Madrid.

Roma wins Serie A Women

ROME – Roma won its first Serie A Women’s title on Saturday, ending Juventus’s long reign. Roma beat Fiorentina 2-1 in front of more than 2,700 fans at home to secure the crown after five straight league titles for Juventus. The Giallorosse were on course for a treble of trophies. They face Juventus in the Italian Cup final on June 4 and already own the Italian Super Cup won in November. Roma has dominated Serie A Women, winning 21 of its 23 matches. This is the first season in which women’s soccer has been professional in Italy.

Man City women thump Reading

Manchester City is closing in on Manchester United in the English Women’s Super League standing with a month to go in the regular season. On Sunday, Man City beat Reading 4-1, extending its unbeaten streak at home to 10 games. On Saturday, Leicester City blanked Liverpool 4-0 and Tottenham and Brighton & Hove Albion played to a 2-2 tie. Man United is atop the standing with 47 points while Man City is close behind at 44. Chelsea has 40 points. Reading is in the basement with 11 points and is in danger of relegation.

Sydney FC claim fourth Australian women’s title

American striker Madison Haley scored twice as Sydney FC snapped a three-season losing streak in Australian championship finals with a 4-0 win over Western United to claim a record-equalling fourth A-League Women’s title on Sunday. Sydney added to its 2009, 2013 and 2019 triumphs and equalled Melbourne Victory’s record as four-times champions. The final attracted a record crowd of just under 10,000 at Parramatta Stadium.

The Associated Press, Reuters

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