Luke Littler showed little concern for the boos he endured in Liverpool as he secured his twelfth night victory in the Premier League, insisting that the hostile reaction he faced on Night 11 in Rotterdam was "the worst he has ever experienced." In recent weeks Littler has become all too familiar with hostile crowds, the most severe of which stemmed from a heated exchange with Dutch No.1 Gian van Veen on Night Nine in Manchester. Van Veen clinched a contentious match after Littler reacted angrily when his opponent turned toward him while delivering his finishing darts.
Van Veen accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd," a comment that sparked a wave of boos each time Littler stepped onto the stage for his three matches on the road to the Night 11 final in Rotterdam, a venue dominated by Van Veen's home supporters. The tension between the two competitors has become a recurring storyline in the league, and the animosity was palpable when Littler arrived in Liverpool for Night 12. Despite the chilly reception at the M&S Bank Arena, the Manchester native turned the tables on the dissenting fans by defeating three of the sport's biggest names—Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Jonny Clayton—in succession, earning his fifth consecutive nightly win.
The triumph moved him to just three points behind Clayton at the top of the table, with four regular weeks still to play. For Littler, the memory of Rotterdam was a benchmark for how much negativity he could tolerate.
"It is what it is," he told Sky Sports, referring to the booing. "I won, and we move on to next week. Rotterdam was far louder than Liverpool tonight.
This week was nothing compared to last week. I just had to forget about it, stay focused, and I wanted to win – and I did." He later added that he had already demonstrated his ability to thrive under pressure the previous week, and that the current night was no different. "There is no anxiety," Littler explained.
"I expect the worst, but it wasn't worse than Rotterdam. That was the worst I have experienced, and it's good to come through those games under those circumstances." It has now been three weeks since the original spat between Littler and Van Veen, an incident that ignited a lingering resentment from crowds each time the Englishman steps onto the stage. Although the two have not spoken since, Littler believes both players have moved past the drama.
He hinted that a future showdown on the oche could finally settle any lingering tension. "No, we have not spoken, but I'm not the type of person to go up and talk to him," he said. "Maybe he is waiting for me to talk to him, but that's not my style.
Even in the practice room, people approach me first. I am not the chatty type. We can obviously settle it on the dartboard.
In the back room everything is normal, the preparation is the same. I think he's forgotten about it, I have forgotten about it.
If I need to talk to him, I will. I don't regret anything. We both have our opinions, and we're entitled to them. I think we have both moved on with our game on stage, but off stage we haven't spoken.
I'm sure we will eventually." Littler's calm demeanor and ability to block out external noise have become hallmarks of his recent form. His victory in Liverpool not only reinforced his position as a title contender but also demonstrated his mental resilience—an essential quality in a sport where crowd reaction can sway momentum.
As the Premier League darts season progresses, the leaderboard remains tight, with Luke Humphries defending his title and several other top players, including Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton, still in contention. Fans can continue to follow the drama each Thursday until May on Sky Sports, with live streaming available via NOW. The league's schedule and up‑to‑date table are accessible online, and additional content such as highlights, podcasts, and expert analysis are offered through various platforms.
As the competition heads into its final weeks, the narrative of Littler versus Van Veen remains one of the most compelling storylines, promising another high‑stakes encounter that could finally put the lingering rivalry to rest on the dartboard.