Premier League Darts: Colin Lloyd rubbishes claims ‘Luke Littler bubble has burst’ ahead of Night Nine in Belfast

Luke Littler will take on Luke Humphries in a rematch of the World Darts Championship final on Night Nine in the Premier League in Belfast; watch the Premier League Darts roadshow every Thursday night live on Sky Sports

Image: Luke Littler remains in the mix in the race to reach the Premier League Play Offs

Luke Littler might not have clinched victory in the Premier League – but there is zero reason for concern over the form of the teenager star, insists Colin Lloyd. 

Spotify This content is provided by Spotify, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spotify cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spotify cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Spotify cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once

The 17-year-old is in the middle of his debut campaign in the tournament in the wake of his staggering World Championship run, which, coupled with his nine-dart and Bahrain Masters heroics, has propelled him to viral fame and prominence after reaching the final against eventual champion Luke Humphries.

He currently sits outside of the playoff spots in fifth place in the Premier League table, but is level on 13 points with fourth-placed Michael Smith and third-placed Nathan Aspinall ahead of Night Nine in Belfast this Thursday.

  • Premier League Darts: Ultimate guide to the 2024 line-up
  • Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen – Darts’ new rivalry for years to come?
  • Stream the biggest moments on NOW | Get Sky Sports

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Emma Paton, Colin Lloyd and Polly James analyse Luke Littler’s Premier League performance at the halfway stage and discuss harsh suggestions that the 17-year-old’s bubble has burst

“I wouldn’t panic about it at the moment, he took a week off and I think that was a good thing and a very mature thing to do because he’s been doing absolutely everything since his fantastic run at the World Championships,” said Lloyd on the Love The Darts podcast.

“It makes you think whether he’s had a bit of time to sit down, relax, take everything in and regroup and carry on doing what he’s doing. He’s going to come back on Thursday night and come back fresh hopefully and he’ll come back firing.

“You see people on social media saying the bubble has burst, no it hasn’t! It’s very sad.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Michael van Gerwen proves a point to Luke Littler by finishing off the youngster’s nine-darter by hitting a 144

Littler found himself up against an inspired Smith fight back on Night Eight in Dublin as he surrendered an early 3-1 advantage to lose 6-4 to the former world champion in his quarter-final.

It was his earliest exit in the Premier League since Night Three in Glasgow, his best performance to date coming on Night Two in Berlin when he was a beaten finalist against Michael van Gerwen.

Lloyd said he would grade Littler’s campaign as a ‘B’ so far, with the rising face of darts sitting just two points behind second-placed MVG.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The hilarious moment when Luke Littler and Stuart Broad recreate the pie-eating celebration made famous by Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland

“Let’s be brutally honest and a bit cut-throat about it, it’s a 17-year-old lad, give him a bit of space,” said Lloyd. “People are breathing down his neck for some unknown reason, he’s a very very talented young man with a great career ahead of him.

“He believes and knows how good he is and he flaunts it a little bit, so what? You want that in life and in sport. You want somebody who is a bit showy and flash.

“I think he is going to get better, it’s his first ever Premier League. There’s no reason whatsoever why he can’t make the playoffs.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Darts sensation Luke Littler has some tough decisons to make about his favourite Manchester United players in ‘Winner Stays On’

Awaiting Littler is a rematch of the World Darts Championship final when he takes on Humphries, who tops the Premier League table comfortably on 22 points.

There are eight nights remaining ahead of the Play Offs on Thursday May 23, at the O2 Arena.

“I’ve got a theory that Luke Littler won’t win a night, he’ll scrape into the finals and win the entire thing,” said Polly James on Love The Darts.

“Wouldn’t that be even better? If he doesn’t win a night, scrapes in and wins the whole thing. People would lose their minds.

“I’m totally drinking the Littler Kool-Aid.”

Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!

Image: Sky Sports WhatsApp channel

You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!

Find out more here…

Premier League Darts continues on Sky Sports on Thursday February 8 as Berlin is the next stop on the 17-week extravaganza all the way through to the Play-Offs at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday, May 23. Stream Sky Sports Darts without a contract through NOW

Sourse: skysports.com

No votes yet.
Please wait...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *