Both sides went into tonight’s Barclays Premiership clash seven points behind fourth-placed Everton.

Rafael Benitez’s men, though, had not won in the league since January 3 – and despite having reached the Carling Cup final in the meantime, were desperate for a result to kickstart their Premiership challenge.

After going behind to Shaun Bartlett’s first-half header, Fernando Morientes and John Arne Riise were on target following the restart to take what could prove to be three crucial points back to Merseyside.

Liverpool, though, had almost grabbed an early lead in the eighth minute.

The ball broke to Luis Garcia just inside the box. His angled drive brought a fine save from Dean Kiely. Steven Gerrard was first to the rebound, but scuffed his shot somewhat, the ball cannoning into the ground and up on to the crossbar before being hacked clear.

Milan Baros then drove a low shot just wide from 25 yards after turning sharply to make space for himself in a central position. The hosts had won seven league games here before tonight, but were yet to settle into their usual rhythm as the quarter-hour mark approached.

However, out of nothing, Charlton were ahead in the 20th minute.

Some quick footwork from former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy on the edge of the box saw him get to the by-line and drive the ball across goal, with Jamie Carragher having to make a timely intervention.

From Murphy’s resulting corner, Bartlett was given a clear run into the six-yard box, where he powered a header past Jerzy Dudek from point-blank range.

With 25 minutes gone, Kiely took no chances when getting down at his right-hand post to turn Gerrard’s low drive from the edge of the box behind for a corner.

Sami Hyypia was on hand to unceremoniously hack away Paul Konchesky’s low centre into the six-yard box, as Bryan Hughes closed in on goal.

Liverpool would have drawn level in the 33rd minute, but for a fine piece of goalkeeping.

Gerrard took the ball into the area and out to the left by-line before pulling it back across the six-yard box. Morientes had timed his run to perfection, only for Kiely to somehow make a fantastic block at the Spaniard’s feet.

It was then Dudek’s chance to take the plaudits.

The Pole was at full stretch down to his left to tip Hermann Hreidarsson’s glanced header away following another deep free-kick delivery from Murphy.

Both sides enjoyed spells of decent possession as the interval approached, but neither could find the decisive pass in the final third.

And when Morientes did pick out Gerrard a couple of yards outside the Charlton area, the England midfielder drove a low effort horribly wide.

In the 53rd minute, though, the visitors were denied by the woodwork again.

Baros fed Riise into the left side of the penalty box. Luke Young resisted the temptation to dive in, which allowed the Norwegian space to drive the ball goalwards.

Kiely did not have much time to react, but got the faintest of touches to deflect the bal up on to the crossbar.

Addicks boss Alan Curbishley had seen enough of his side being overrun, and brought on Radostin Kishishev for Jerome Thomas as the hour mark approached.

However, the tactical switch could not prevent Liverpool getting a deserved equaliser in the 61st minute.

Hughes was caught in possession by Baros 25 yards out, and the Czech international promptly fed Morientes.

The Spanish striker neatly side-stepped Jonathan Fortune’s challenge on the edge of the box, before drilling a left-footed shot past Kiely.

Charlton came close t regaining the lead when Dudek could only parry Konchesky’s angled shot, and Djimi Traore just got to the loose ball ahead of Murphy.

Hreidarsson then did well to cut out Morientes cross from the left, but could do little as Liverpool took the lead with 12 minutes left.

Garcia collected the ball around 20 yards out, and carried it on to the edge of the penalty box before slipping a lovely pass inside the full-back for Riise to run on to and drill low past Kiely into the bottom corner.

Even the introduction of former Everton striker Francis Jeffers could not, though, get Charlton back into the game and it was Liverpool who, temporarily at least, closed the gap on their Merseyside rivals.