MVG can continue 2014 win streak against Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor
Published:The PDC Premier League is back and our news team have picked out five bets for the opening night of action, culminating with Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen and Simon Whitlock v Adrian Lewis, at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
With the best players in the world on show it looks a competitive night of tungsten action but by combining our selections you can make it a night to remember with our 27/1 accumulator.
It’s touch and go between Dave Chisnall and Robert Thornton as the two evenly matched players, as reflected in the odds, go head-to-head in the PDC Premier League opener.
Chizzy came out on top when the pair last met in the Players Championship final but we are siding with Thornton’s Premier League experience in this contest.
It’s never easy making your Premier League debut with the quick-fire format and the raucous crowds and despite Chisnall’s 7-6 win record against ‘The Thorn’, the Scot, who finished fifth in his debut Premier League season, can overcome that and hit the ground running in Liverpool.
If there was a format made for Peter Wright it is the Premier League.
Snakebite is a true entertainer and his funky fashion sense is sure to suit this format but despite his colourful character he is not afraid to let his darts do the talking as his run to the Ladbrokes World Championship final showed.
On that journey at Alexandra Palace the 43-year-old disposed of his Premier League opponent Wes Newton and with the crowd firmly on his side he made world no. 1 Michael van Gerwen work all the way to his first title.
Expect the Liverpool crowd to be firmly on his side once again as he makes a winning debut in the Premier League.
Gary Anderson showed signs at the end of last year of a return to the form that saw him win the Premier League back in 2011 but he will not be relishing an opening encounter with Raymond van Barneveld.
Barney has not been firing on all cylinders himself in recent times but four wins from his six league encounters with ‘The Flying Scotsman’ should fill the five-time World Champion with plenty of confidence.
And with the Barney Army if full voice the Dutchman can get his campaign for a first Premier League title off to a good start by avoiding defeat.
The question on everyone’s lips is how will Phil Taylor respond to his shock defeat to Michael Smith at the World Championship in December?
Could we finally be witnessing the demise of the 53-year-old, who will use new darts for the first time in Liverpool, or will he bounce back to reclaim the Premier League title?
In true ‘Power’ style expect him to be fully charged in his bid for a seventh Premier League crown but he will have to wait until week two for his first win.
MVG is first up for the tungsten legend, who is fresh from signing a new £3m sponsorship deal with Target Darts, and the World Champion can continue his momentum with victory in a quick-fire format which is his bread and butter.
Simon Whitlock is the nearly man of the PDC as his runner-up finishes in the past at the World Championship and the Premier League prove.
The consistent Aussie will be in the race for the play-off spots yet again this year and with his excellent record against Adrian Lewis, he will be confident of making a winning start.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ has suffered just two defeats in eight against ‘Jackpot’ and we are backing that run to continue in the Double Chance market.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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