Man United fan Luke Littler is BOOED in Liverpool before blowing a 4-0 lead against Michael van Gerwen

• Luke Littler was booed in Liverpool during his defeat by Michael van Gerwen
• The world and defending Premier League champion is famously a Man United fan
• Littler threw away a 4-0 lead over Van Gerwen to lose 6-5 at M&S Bank Arena

By YASEEN ZAMAN

Luke Littler was booed in a stinging defeat by Michael van Gerwen in front of the Liverpool crowd on Thursday night.

Warrington-born Littler is a well-known Manchester United fan and was even serenaded at Old Trafford for his heroics at the World Darts Championship in January, where he became the youngest world champion ever. 

It was victory over Van Gerwen that sealed the teenager’s historic achievement at the start of the year.

But on night 12 of the Premier League darts at M&S Bank Arena, Littler agonisingly blew a 4-0 lead to his Dutch rival.

Littler sought a record-breaking fifth nightly win of the season, but the quarter-final match ended 6-5 at a venue where he was victorious last year.

The defending champion still tops the Premier League table, followed by Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price, both of whom closed the gap to Littler on Thursday.

Luke Littler was booed in Liverpool after his capitulating 6-5 defeat by Michael van Gerwen

The 18-year-old led his Dutch rival 4-0 at one point in the Premier League darts quarter-final

The pair faced off in the final, with Price claiming a 6-4 win over Humphries, moving him up to third in the table.

The former starred in the final, throwing a 104.43 average and hitting three 180s.

‘I was under pressure to win the first game and get some points on the board,’ Price said. ‘It was a cracking match. I am happy with this one. I am playing really well.

‘Every week is vital for points, it was vital I got some points, I wanted to get five today and ease the pressure on me. When there is no pressure on me, I play some good darts.

‘I am in some good form and if I carry on playing like I am and push forward, I don’t see why I can’t win it.

‘I am playing reasonably well, I am more consistent than most. If I keep playing like this the results will follow.’ 

Humphries, on the other hand, sits second and four points off Littler in the table.

Meanwhile, Liverpool could wrap up the Premier League title this Sunday if Arne Slot’s side are victorious over Tottenham at Anfield.

Littler is a well-known Man United fan and was even serenaded for his World Darts Championship glory at Old Trafford in January

Earlier this week, Littler hinted that he could boycott events in one country after being repeatedly booed there. 

The World Champion felt the crowd’s wrath as he crashed out of semi-finals of the German Grand Prix in Munich.

‘Shouldn’t have been in Munich but had to play anyway. Next one in Germany for me is Dortmund [in October] and I am glad to say that,’ he wrote from the back seat of a car on Instagram. 

Littler had been whistled and booed during his quarter-final victory over Joe Cullen, according to reports on social media. 

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Man United fan Luke Littler is BOOED in Liverpool before blowing a 4-0 lead against Michael van Gerwen

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