LUKE LITTLER threw away a FOUR-LEG lead to crash out of the Premier League Night 12 to Michael van Gerwen.
Tonight’s defeat at the M&S Bank Arena meant Littler, 18, missed out on winning a record fifth Premier League night.
Luke littler suffered an absolute collapse in the Premier League
Michael van Gerwen came from behind to eliminate Littler
The Man United fan was given loud boos on his walk-on as he expected at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
Littler was playing up to the Liverpool crowd after being booed on his walk to the oche, and instantly looked full of confidence.
The Nuke appeared to be in cruise control as he swept the Dutchman aside to lead 4-0 and silence the jeering arena.
However, he then missed the bullseye to lead by five and just one away from victory.
But he fluffed his chance and MVG grabbed a first leg on the board.
Van Gerwen then pulled in back to 5-3 but Littler then delivered a sublime 160 finish to seemingly take control of the clash yet again.
But once again MVG fought back as Littler’s scoring power just dipped.
Then Littler missed two-match darts and Van Gerwen punished by taking out the deciding leg to win 6-5.
Littler had expected the boos. He had earlier posted on X: “One of the best nights on the Premier League calendar coming up tomorrow, bring on the boos Liverpool.”
Littler kicked things off with a 180 and carried on in epic fashion, swiftly assembling a seemingly unassailable lead.
But Dutchman MvG had other ideas, winning three consecutive legs to throw the tie wide open.
World champion Littler won the eighth leg to make it 5-3, and should have booked his spot in the semi-final in the next one.
But tops and then double 10 alluded him. Van Gerwen responded with a 72 checkout, and then levelled the match at 5-5.
And in one of the most astonishing comebacks of the current campaign, the three-time world champion blew Littler away to secure a much-needed win.
Van Gerwen has been suffering with a neck and back injury which forced him out of action on night nine of the Premier League just THREE minutes before play was due to begin.
Earlier Nathan Aspinall lost 6-3 to World No1 Luke Humphries after admitting he’d been playing on with a dislocated shoulder.
He said: “It was only last week, it happened in the final of the ProTour. I didn’t know what I’d done until I got back home.
“I had a minor dislocation in the shoulder. So I don’t know how I managed to play so well last Thursday.
“I’ve seen Kirsten at the clinic and she’s come up trumps again. It’s still a little bit sore.”
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