By DartsFocus | April 24, 2025
Littler Faces Hostile Crowd Over Man United Allegiance
It was a night of drama and emotion in Liverpool as 18-year-old Luke Littler surrendered a commanding 4-0 lead to fall 6-5 to Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals of Premier League Darts night 12. The teenager entered the M&S Bank Arena knowing he would face a hostile reception after teasing Liverpool fans with a cheeky social media post about his Manchester United support.
“Bring on the boos Liverpool,” Littler wrote before the match—and the crowd delivered exactly that. Despite the noise, Littler came out flying, silencing the arena with a brilliant performance that saw him dominate early proceedings against the Dutch seven-time Premier League champion.
Blistering Start Fades into Painful Collapse
Littler stormed to a 4-0 lead, posting a significantly higher average per visit than Van Gerwen and even coming within a whisker of 5-0. He narrowly missed a bullseye that would have given him that lead, opening the door for the experienced Van Gerwen to stage a comeback.
Despite regaining a leg with a stunning 160 checkout that brought him to 5-3, Littler’s finishing faltered at the worst time. In leg nine, he missed match darts at tops and double 10, allowing Van Gerwen to capitalize and level the score at 5-5.
From there, the momentum had clearly shifted. With the crowd back in full voice, Van Gerwen sealed the final leg to complete an extraordinary comeback, leaving Littler visibly emotional as he exited the stage.
Resilience Amid Boos and Pressure
Despite the loss, Littler showed remarkable mental fortitude in dealing with the boos, even gesturing for the crowd to calm down after his 160 checkout. His reaction was a blend of confidence and poise rarely seen in someone so young on such a massive stage.
His composure, however, couldn’t prevent the heartbreak of defeat. Yet, all is not lost for Littler. He remains top of the Premier League Darts eight-player table, regardless of the final results from Liverpool, and is on course to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on May 29.
Van Gerwen’s Experience Proves Crucial
Michael van Gerwen, who has not been in top form for much of this season, used every ounce of his experience to claw back into the match. The win is a timely reminder of why he remains one of the most feared names in darts, capable of turning matches around even when outplayed for long spells.
“It’s always a challenge against Luke. He’s a great young player with a big future,” Van Gerwen said post-match. “But sometimes experience counts, especially in front of a big crowd like this.”
Looking Ahead
As the Premier League season nears its climax, all eyes remain on Littler, who continues to capture attention both for his dazzling darting ability and the growing storylines surrounding his rise. He’ll have more opportunities to bounce back before the play-offs—and if anything, this night in Liverpool may be a critical learning moment for one of darts’ brightest young stars.
Category: Darts News, Premier League Darts, UK Sports
Tags: Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Premier League Darts, darts Liverpool, Littler Man United, darts match reaction, darts booing, 160 checkout, darts play-offs, sports comeback
