MANCHESTER, Jan 22: Rio Ferdinand’s last-minute winner saw Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday as the hosts cut Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premiership table to 14 points. The match looked to be heading for a goalless draw until England centre-back Ferdinand headed in a free-kick which Liverpool keeper Jose Reina could not prevent hitting the back of the net despite getting a hand to the ball.

European champions Liverpool remained third, 18 points adrift of the leaders and four behind United but with two games in hand on the only two sides above them in the table.

Earlier Sunday reigning Premiership champions Chelsea were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by London rivals Charlton as Jose Mourinho’s side dropped league points at their Stamford Bridge home for the first time this season.

Earlier, Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premiership by a point but were pegged back by Marcus Bent’s debut goal for Charlton in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Charlton, who knocked London rivals Chelsea out of the League Cup on penalties on this ground in October, became the first team to take a point in the league from the English champions’ home ground this season.

Chelsea had defender Ricardo Carvalho sent off in the 82nd minute for two yellow cards, but by that stage Charlton were holding their own even when the Blues had eleven men on the pitch.

Depending on appearances, the fee could rise by another half a million pounds. If his second-half impact is any barometer, Everton manager David Moyes can expect that final payment before too long.

After entering the play as a replacement for Danish winger Dennis Rommedahl, Bent was pushed up front alongside his namesake Darren.

Until this point Chelsea, who had won all their 11 previous home league matches this term.

They took a 19th minute lead when Damien Duff’s corner was headed on by Hernan Crespo for Eidur Gudjohnsen to finish from close range.

After Bent’s intervention at the end of the first-half, however, Charlton looked far more threatening.

Darren Ambrose lofted a ball into the box which should have been dealt with by Chelsea’s back line or even goalkeeper Petr Cech.—Agencies