The Sport Matrix: Thursday 13 February 2014

Arsenal held at home by United

Arsenal missed the chance to reclaim top spot as they played a goalless draw at home against Manchester United. Robin van Persie missed three chances to score – one denied by Wojciech Szczesny’s brilliant save – while Laurent Koscielny’s header was cleared off the line. MORE

Gerrard spot on to seal Liverpool win

Steven Gerrard scored a late penalty as Liverpool earned a 3-2 win at Fulham. Kolo Touré’s own goal had put Fulham 1-0 up and, despite Daniel Sturridge’s equaliser, the hosts scored again through Kieran Richardson. But Philippe Coutinho levelled before Gerrard’s winner. MORE

Chico earns draw for Swansea City

Stoke and Swansea played out a 1-1 draw at Britannia Stadium. Peter Crouch’s right-footed strike put Stoke ahead in the 17th minute, before Swansea earned a crucial point when Chico Flores headed home Pablo Hernandez’s cross seven minutes after the interval. MORE

Adebayor double inspires Spurs

Emmanuel Adebayor struck twice as Spurs beat Newcastle 4-0 at St James’ Park. The visitors took the lead through Adebayor’s early effort and, after Paulinho added a second, the Togolese forward struck again before Nacer Chadli completed the scoring. MORE

Saints’ Shaw in line for England chance

Southampton left-back Luke Shaw is to be named by Roy Hodgson in the England squad to face Denmark on 5 March. Hodgson said yesterday that John Terry would not be making a return to the England team for the World Cup. MORE

Collingwood given England T20 role

Paul Collingwood has been named England assistant coach for the limited-overs tour of the West Indies and World T20 in Bangladesh. Collingwood, the Durham captain and former Test player, will work with head coach Ashley Giles.

KP fetches bargain price at IPL auction

Kevin Pietersen’s debut as a freelance Twenty20 player will be for Delhi Daredevils after yesterday’s IPL auction, although the former England batsman’s final price of $1.5m (£880,000) was well down on what was predicted. MORE

‘Tight’ World Cup pick for Lancaster

England head coach Stuart Lancaster admits he will face a selection headache for the World Cup, with players such as Manu Tuilagi still to return from injury. “The reality is that we’ll be making some very tight decisions,” he said. MORE

Maze and Gisin share gold

The women’s downhill skiing gold was shared in Sochi after Slovenia’s Tina Maze and Dominique Gisin of Switzerland finished in a dead heat. Britain’s Chemmy Alcott finished 19th. MORE

Stephen Brenkley

Angus Fraser will be an intelligent and bold selector of the England cricket team. He will look for honesty, loyalty and assiduousness. He will not mind an argument but he will not want backsliders. MORE