Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek dropped a clanger as Manchester United snatched a 2-1 victory at Anfield, while Leeds United suffered another shattering defeat in the English premier league on Sunday.
Dudek, selected by manager Gerard Houllier despite a poor run of recent form, fumbled a simple back pass to gift Diego Forlan the first of his two goals as United ended a run of four straight league defeats by Liverpool.
Terry Venables's job as Leeds United manager was in even greater jeopardy after Scott Parker's stoppage time goal for Charlton Athletic condemned them to a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road, their fifth successive home loss in the league.
Goals by Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy in the last four minutes sealed Newcastle United's 2-1 win over 10-man Everton at St James' Park in the day's other game.
Manchester United's victory lifted them to fourth in the table on 29 points, two less than second-placed Liverpool, who have lost three of their last four league games.
Everton slipped to fifth on 29 points, with Newcastle up to sixth on 25. Champions Arsenal are top with 35 points after their 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Leeds slipped to a lowly 16th in the table, only three points and two places above the relegation zone.
Dudek now seems certain to be dropped in favor of Chris Kirkland after his Anfield nightmare.
A scrappy encounter between the two great rivals seemed to be heading for a draw when the Poland international inexplicably failed to hold on to a routine headed back pass by Jamie Carragher after 64 minutes.
The ball trickled through his legs and Forlan gleefully tapped it into the net for United's opening goal.
* Terry Venables's position as Leeds United manager looked increasingly precarious after his team stumbled to a fifth consecutive home defeat in the English premier league.
* Two goals in the last four minutes won it for Newcastle after Everton had produced a battling rearguard following a 22nd minute red card for defender Joseph Yobo.
Three minutes later the Uruguayan grabbed his second, beating a poorly positioned Dudek at his near post with a fierce drive.
Liverpool were stung into action after what had been, until then, a scrappy encounter and pulled one back when Finnish defender Sami Hyypia drove the ball home from 15m following a scramble after 82 minutes.
Barthez then produced a magnificent save to keep out a fierce Dietmar Hamann drive as United held on for a first win over their fierce rivals in seven attempts.
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2, EVERTON 1
Two goals in the last four minutes won it for Newcastle after Everton had produced a battling rearguard following a 22nd minute red card for defender Joseph Yobo.
Kevin Campbell poked Everton ahead in the 17th minute but their hopes of a seventh successive league win looked slim when Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo got a harshly given straight red for a last-man foul on Craig Bellamy.
Everton then had to play three-quarters of the match at St James' Park with 10 men.
But by then Campbell had already poked the visitors in front and they looked set for a seventh successive league win until a dramatic late turnaround.
Alan Shearer sparked Newcastle's comeback in the 86th minute with a brilliant 25m volley and a minute from time Bellamy with a cross that deflected in off Everton's Li Tie and goalkeeper Richard Wright, earned an unlikely victory for the home side.
LEEDS UNITED 1, CHARLTON ATHL. 2
Terry Venables's woes piled up as Leeds slumped to their fifth successive home league defeat following Scott Parker's injury-time winner.
Australian forward Harry Ke-well's ferocious 42nd-minute shot seemed to have netted misfiring Leeds a welcome victory over Charlton.
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