MICHAEL VAN GERWEN is confident of ending his two-match winless run in the 2019 Unibet Premier League as he takes on in-form Gerwyn Price in Nottingham on Thursday.
After winning his opening three matches of the season, Van Gerwen suffered a shock defeat to James Wade in Exeter and could only manage a draw with Scottish favourite John Henderson in Aberdeen on Night Five.
The Dutchman has won the league phase every year since his Premier League debut in 2013, but failure to defeat Welsh number one Price would see Van Gerwen go three games without victory for just the second time in Premier League history.
“I’m really looking forward to the match against Gerwyn,” said Van Gerwen, who is yet to taste defeat against Price in their 13 previous meetings.
“He is in good form and has done really well recently to be fair to him but I know – and he knows – that I play close to my best game I will win.
“I’ve shown many times that I have what it takes to bounce back from disappointed results and come back stronger and I am aiming for that to start on Thursday night.
“I have not been playing bad but I also haven’t been playing near my best and I know what I need to do to change that.
"The Premier League is a long season and I am confident of finishing first at the end of it. A win against Gerwyn will help that a lot and show everyone that I am the man to beat.”
Night Six of the Unibet Premier League in Nottingham will be shown live on Sky Sports, worldwide through the PDC's broadcast partners, and through PDCTV-HD for Rest of the World Subscribers.
Night Six - Thursday March 14
Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Nathan Aspinall v Michael Smith
James Wade v Mensur Suljovic
Rob Cross v Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright v Daryl Gurney
Tickets: 0843 373 3000 or click here
Unibet Premier League – Night Six Match Odds
15/8 Nathan Aspinall - Draw 7/2 - Michael Smith Evens
Evens James Wade - Draw 33/10 - Mensur Suljovic 2/1
1/2 Rob Cross - Draw 9/2 - Raymond van Barneveld 7/2
7/2 Gerwyn Price - Draw 9/2 - Michael van Gerwen 1/2
9/10 Peter Wright - Draw 33/10 - Daryl Gurney 9/4
Unibet Premier League Darts 2019 - To Win Outright
Michael Van Gerwen - 1/2
Rob Cross - 7/1
James Wade - 10/1
Peter Wright - 11/1
Gerwyn Price - 12/1
Michael Smith - 14/1
Mensur Suljovic - 28/1
Daryl Gurney - 33/1
Raymond Van Barneveld - 150/1
Odds via www.unibet.co.uk and correct at time of writing. Subject to fluctuation.
