LONDON, Dec 23: Cristiano Ronaldo scored an 88th-minute penalty to give Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday that kept them within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Everton seemed set to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions after Tim Cahill’s 27th-minute header had cancelled out the opening goal by Ronaldo five minutes earlier.

However, a lazy trip by Steven Pienaar on Ryan Giggs allowed Ronaldo to score his second of the day from the spot and extend United’s home league winning streak to nine games.

Arsenal, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday, lead the way on 43 points with United second on 42. Chelsea, who visit Blackburn Rovers later on Sunday, are third on 34.

Manchester City, who drew 1-1 at Aston Villa, also have 34 while Liverpool, 4-1 home winners over Portsmouth, are fifth on 33. Everton remain sixth on 30, ahead of Portsmouth on goal difference.

Everton arrived on Sunday full of confidence after a run that has propelled them to the top six, into the League Cup semi-finals and the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

They allowed United to go ahead in the 22nd minute when Ronaldo collected the ball in an innocuous position on the right but was given room to cut inside and clip a left-footed shot beyond Tim Howard.

Everton hit back when Pienaar floated in a cross from the left and Cahill showed great determination to climb above Patrice Evra to power in an excellent header.

United looked lively and inventive but, until Pienaar’s moment of madness, found Everton difficult to break down despite the wealth of attacking talent on show.

The South African thrust out a leg behind him in a playground tackle that Giggs was only too happy to fall over and present Ronaldo with an opportunity he accepted with minimum fuss.

Arsenal guaranteed themselves Christmas dinner as Premier League leaders after they beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Emirates on Saturday to open a four-point lead.

Arsenal, below their best for much of the game, won with a 76th-minute header by Nicklas Bendtner to move to 43 points.

Manchester City, who drew 1-1 at Aston Villa, remain fourth on 34 with Liverpool fifth on 33 after Fernando Torres scored twice in their 4-1 home win over Portsmouth that ended the south coast club’s six-game run of away league wins.

West Ham United and Reading claimed late goals to secure 2-1 wins over Middlesbrough and Sunderland respectively while Bolton Wanderers beat Birmingham City 3-0.

Fulham, who sacked manager Lawrie Sanchez on Friday, drew 1-1 at home with Wigan Athletic, who ended a run of seven consecutive away defeats.

Tottenham, who have now gone 20 league and Cup games without beating Arsenal, missed their chance on Saturday.

Arsenal took the lead three minutes into the second half when a backheel by Cesc Fabregas set up Emmanuel Adebayor for 10th league goal this season.

Dimitar Berbatov levelled from a tight angle in the 66th minute but, after the Bulgarian was then tripped in the box, Robbie Keane had his penalty saved by Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal took almost immediate advantage when 19-year-old Danish striker Bendtner came off the bench to power home a header from a Fabregas corner with his first touch.

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