EPL Roundup: Haaland fires blanks but Man City still wins; Kane gives Spurs hope

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan kicks the ball in an attempt to score, challenged by Leeds United's Weston McKennie during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leeds United at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Rui Vieira/AP)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — While Sam Allardyce managed to stop Erling Haaland on Saturday, he could not halt Manchester City’s relentless march toward the English Premier League title.

Two first-half goals from Ilkay Gundogan saw the defending champions beat Leeds 2-1 at Etihad Stadium and extend their lead at the top of the table to four points.

But the relegation-threatened visitors, in new manager Allardyce’s first game in charge, provided a late scare when substitute Rodrigo struck moments after Gundogan missed from the penalty spot.

Ultimately, City extended its unbeaten run to 20 games in all competitions and moved Pep Guardiola closer to a third straight league title.

With second-placed Arsenal facing a difficult trip to Newcastle on Sunday, City’s lead could look even more commanding by the end of the weekend.

Leeds’ sorry run stands at six games without a win, with the fight for survival becoming more desperate by the week.

Gundogan’s goals in the space of eight first-half minutes put City on course for victory.

The home team was so dominant that it could even afford for its leading scorer to have an unusually off day as Haaland missed a host of chances to add to his 51 goals this season.

At one point, the Norway international laughed at himself as another scoring opportunity went by.

By the time he hit the post after firing past Leeds goalkeeper Joel Robles in the second half, it was clear it wasn’t going to be his day.

He even handed over penalty duties to Gundogan later on to give the City captain the chance to complete his hat trick, only for him to hit the post.

Guardiola looked furious about that decision, which looked even more costly when Rodrigo struck almost immediately after to set up an unexpectedly nervy finish.

Even after his penalty miss, Gundogan still proved the match-winner. He scored in the 19th and 27th minutes from Riyad Mahrez passes.

Gundogan missed from the spot in the 84th, and Rodrigo pulled one back for Leeds a minute later.

City is marching toward a treble of trophies, with the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid coming up on Tuesday and a place in the FA Cup final against Manchester United already secured.

Tottenham 1, Crystal Palace 0

In London, Harry Kane’s first-half header helped Tottenham to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 and keep alive their faint Europa League hopes.

Kane’s 28th goal in all competitions settled a drab contest and moved him ahead of Wayne Rooney into outright second on the league’s all-time leading scorer list with 209.

It was enough for Ryan Mason to secure a first victory in his second spell in charge of Spurs, who have jumped up to sixth. But seventh-placed Brighton has three games in hand and is two points behind the London club.

While most eyes pre-match were on the coronation of the King, Tottenham sprung a royal surprise with its lineup.

Emerson Royal started and Yves Bissouma was on the bench despite both being sidelined with injuries that were expected to keep them out for another couple of weeks. Also, Eric Dier was dropped for the hosts to go to 4-3-3.

Given both clubs were involved in seven-goal thrillers last weekend, action aplenty was anticipated but the majority of the first half was played at a subdued pace.

Cristian Romero hit the crossbar with a near-post header from Pedro Porro’s 17th-minute corner, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fired over on the turn from Kane’s pass. Spurs were experiencing teething problems in their new system.

When Joachim Andersen scooped over for Palace under pressure from Ben Davies, it seemed the opening 45 would end goalless, but Kane had other ideas.

The stand-in captain sprayed the ball out wide to Porro, who whipped in a wonderful cross for Kane to head home.

Tempers boiled over late and referee Darren England issued nine yellow cards in total but Tottenham held on to end their four-match winless run and keep a first clean sheet since Feb. 26.

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Liverpool 1, Brentford 0

In Liverpool, Mohamed Salah’s 100th goal at Anfield underpinned Liverpool’s 1-0 win against Brentford.

Salah’s 13th-minute strike was far from his best as he bundled the ball over the line, but he became the first Liverpool player to score in nine successive home matches in all competitions.

More importantly, the Merseyside club’s sixth straight win moved it to within a point of fourth-placed Manchester United and still in with a shot of qualifying for the Champions League.

On the day of the coronation of Charles III, fans jeered the national anthem, “God Save the King,” because of what is perceived to be a long-held opposition toward the establishment.

But Salah gave the home fans something to cheer when he scored. He has 30 goals for a third successive season, and fourth in six.

It put him level with Steven Gerrard in fifth place on the club’s all-time goal-scoring list with 186.

Much has been made of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s passing from a new hybrid midfield position but it was Fabinho, in his more traditional holding role, who set up the winner.

His chip over a crowded penalty area picked out Virgil van Dijk, who headed to the far post where Salah pounced.

Chelsea 3, Bournemouth 1

In Bournemouth, Chelsea snapped a six-game losing streak by beating Bournemouth 3-1 in the English Premier League on Saturday to earn its first points since Frank Lampard returned as interim manager.

After first-half goals were traded, defender Benoît Badiashile put visiting Chelsea ahead in the 82nd minute when he redirected Hakim Ziyech’s free kick past goalkeeper Neto. João Félix sealed it from close range four minutes later at Vitality Stadium.

Conor Gallagher opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he headed in N’Golo Kanté’s cross. Matias Viña equalized 12 minutes later with a curler inside the far post after a buildup that sliced through Chelsea’s defense.

Chelsea was in free fall after four straight league losses and two more in the Champions League quarterfinals — all on Lampard’s watch since the Chelsea great was brought in to see out the season following the firing of Graham Potter.

The London club picked up one spot in the standings — moving to 11th place. The season is a major disappointment for Chelsea but Saturday’s win at least prevents a total collapse toward relegation.

Bournemouth, which had won two in a row, slipped one spot to 14th with three games remaining.

Wolverhampton 1, Aston Villa 0

In Wolverhampton, Toti Gomes’ goal sealed a 1-0 win for relegation-threatened Wolves against Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Victory in the Midlands derby moved Wolverhampton 10 points above the drop zone, while also delivering a blow to Villa’s hopes of qualifying for Europe

Gomes’ first goal for the club secured a fourth straight home win and saw the team recover impressively from being routed 6-0 by Brighton last week.

The winner came in the ninth minute when Toti crashed a header off the bar from Ruben Neves’ corner.

It would now take an unlikely set of results to send Wolverhampton down, with the club 13th in the standings.

Villa was eighth, a point behind Brighton, having played three games more.

Villa’s best chance of finding a leveller came with 19 minutes remaining when Douglas Luiz’s free kick dropped for Tyrone Mings six yards out, only for the defender to volley over.

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