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

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 [ Images ] allowed Ronaldo to score his second of the day from the spot and extend United's home league winning streak to nine games.

Chelsea [ Images ] keep up the  pressure

Third-placed Chelsea kept up the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester United when a first-half Joe Cole [ Images ] goal gave them a 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers.

Arsenal, who beat Tottenham Hotspur [ Images ] 2-1 on Saturday, lead the way on 43 points with United second on 42 and Chelsea on 37.

Chelsea weathered some early Blackburn pressure before striking with a sweetly taken goal by Cole after a killer through-ball by Salomon Kalou [ Images ] in the 22nd minute.

Both goalkeepers then made excellent first-half saves as Petr Cech [ Images ] pushed a Steven Reid shot on to the bar and Brad Friedel dived to tip a Frank Lampard [ Images ] effort against a post before Chelsea tightened up to secure the victory.