13/04/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | APR 13, 2026

30

Brentford boss hails ‘very special’ Thiago

Ű BY EDWARD ELLIOT

BRENTFORD BOSS Keith Andrews hailed Igor Thiago as a “very special player” after he backed up his Brazil debut with a record-breaking brace in a 2-2 draw with fellow European hopefuls Everton. Striker Thiago became the Bees’ all-time lead ing scorer in a single Premier League season by taking his tally to 21 with an early penalty and a fortuitous 77th-minute finish. Brentford were ultimately frustrated as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall levelled in added time at the Gtech Community Stadium after Beto headed Everton’s initial equaliser. Thiago joined the Bees in a club-record £30 million (RM156m) deal from Belgian side Club

not many changes but Kiernan has come in and helped us greatly. “His goals have been hugely important. When I was signing him, when I was speaking with him, he did say, ‘I’ll score goals if I’m played in the right way’. “He’s scored goals, he’s contributed to the performances, so we’ve been really impressed with Kiernan. “I’m pleased to get a draw out of the game because it looked as if it wasn’t going to be the case. It’s a tough place to come, taking a point from here is not the worst result.” – The Independent

ball through a top-five finish. Brentford stay seventh after edging on to 47 points following a fourth consecutive League draw, with eighth-placed Everton below on goal difference ahead of this weekend’s Merseyside derby. Speaking about the late leveller, Andrews said: “Unfortunately we couldn’t quite manage those last few moments to see out what I feel would have been a well-deserved win.” Dewsbury-Hall’s crucial strike was his seventh Everton goal since joining from Chelsea. Toffees boss David Moyes said: “Kiernan has been so good for us. From last season there are

Brugge in 2024 but missed most of last term due to injury. “The biggest thing for Thiago this season was staying fit and playing as many minutes as he has,” said Andrews. “We always knew he had bril liant attributes. “The goals get all the attention but his overall performance levels continue to get better and better and he’s constantly evolving his game. He’s proving to be a very, very special player.” The two sides remain firmly in the mix for continental qualification but each missed the chance to pile pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea in the battle to secure Champions League foot

A star is born Slot compares Rio to Salah after Liverpool beat Fulham

6117/2026

12/04/2026 (SUN)

Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring the opener against Fulham during the Premier League match at Anfield yesterday. – AFPPIC

6414 0443 8540

Draw Date: 12/04/26 (Sun)

Draw No: 6064/26 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

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7940 2301 1041 7910 6316

0050 6501 3322 3629 3701

0818 6257 5644

5,912,816.11

8791+ 9202 5794+ 2013 0458+ 2215 5090+ 0130 9028+ 7725

6425+ 6180 5357+ 8836 8697+ 7169 9552+ 1399 7530+ 5787

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8540 8540 0443

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8540 8540 0443

300,701.98

4

RM3,161,682.90

0818 + 6257 0818 + 5644 6257+ 5644

6257+ 0818 5644+ 0818 5644+ 6257

6414 0443 8540 ROOSTER

RM102,549.10

Ű BY ANDY HAMPSON

Slot must now decide whether to start Ngumoha in Tuesday’s (Wed 3am Malaysian time) challenging Champions League return against PSG at Anfield, when the Reds will attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit. The Dutchman said: “I think he is ready. The question is can he do this two days later? Would he be able to play at that level? Yes. “It’s not like at the beginning of the season when he was a young player get ting experience of the first team. Now he is someone I can pick for any game, so also Tuesday.” Slot added, however, that midfielder Curtis Jones was doubtful after being forced off against Fulham with a groin injury. Ngumoha’s 36th-minute strike, fol lowed by Salah’s 256th goal for the club four minutes later, rewarded Liverpool for a dominant first half. Fulham rallied after the break but were unable to pull one back to set up a nervy finish. Cottagers manager Marco Silva said: “The game was decided in five minutes and our approach was not aggressive enough on and off the ball. “We gave Liverpool the chance to build up their attacks too easy. That was the reason why they had the chances and were in control of the game. “The second half was completely dif ferent. “We created much more chances as well but we were not ruthless enough, as with a goal we can create a different sce nario.” – The Independent

RM663,773.00

A RNE SLOT compared Rio Ngumoha to Mohamed Salah after the 17-year-old set Liverpool on the way to a 2-0 victory over Fulham yesterday. Ngumoha opened the scoring with a fine strike before old hand Salah secured three much-needed Premier League points at Anfield. It was Ngumoha’s first goal since a dra matic late winner at Newcastle in August and his first in front of a home crowd. Liverpool manager Slot said: “He’s not only the long-term future but also the near future. I said one or two months ago his playing time would increase because he’s got stronger and stronger. “He’s shown that it wasn’t only a nice trick but there was more and more end product to what he did, and more power, which is needed if you play against the best defenders in the world. “I don’t think anyone is surprised he scored his first (Anfield) goal. He has such a special quality you don’t see very often in football anymore, dominating the one v-one situations. “That’s what he did when he scored his goal, making the ball free by twisting and turning and then hitting it in like a Mo Salah finish. It’s pleasing to see that he did what we know makes him special.” Liverpool’s victory bought Slot some respite from the pressure that has grown throughout an underwhelming season and intensified particularly after heavy losses to Manchester City and Paris St Germain in the last week.

500 818+ SNAKE

RM1,125,833.30

226 257 + RAT

3 4 0 6 7 4 0 6 7 0 6 7 6 7

RM1,293,339.00

325 644 + BOAR

2 8 6 3 3 4 4 6 1 7

088 791 319 202 936 425 306 180 195 794 852 013 415 357 168 836 490 458 632 215 158 697 477 169 975 090 760 130 829 552 521 399 339 028 317 725 817 530 295 787

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1 29 35 40 43 52

23,970,150.69

RM1,550,645.30 818 + 257 + 644 257 + 644 + 818 818 + 644 + 257 644 + 818 + 257 257 + 818 + 644 644 + 257 + 818

11 27 28 34 35 48

7,227,991.68

23 26 35 37 43 44 2

1+3D J2 RM251,254.70 won on 11/4/26!

2,296,962.22

104,321.49