ANDERSON & VAN GERWEN SET FOR LIVERPOOL CLASH AS BUNTING MEETS TAYLOR
WORLD CHAMPION Gary Anderson and world number one Michael van Gerwen renew their rivalry in the Betway Premier League on Thursday night as home duo Stephen Bunting and Dave Chisnall take on Phil Taylor and James Wade in Liverpool.
Anderson and van Gerwen have enjoyed a string of high-quality clashes over the past year, including in the 2014 Premier League semi-finals and at the last four stage of the World Championship six weeks ago.
They also clashed on Sunday in the German Darts Championship final, when van Gerwen averaged almost 118 in an incredible performance as he defeated the Scot 6-2 to claim that title.
The duo's unbeaten starts to the Betway Premier League season will be put on the line at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Thursday, and van Gerwen said: "I said to Gary on stage on Sunday that I want to do the same in Liverpool, and I hope that I can.
"That is the game you want to produce all the time and it's so difficult to do that, but it's brilliant when you do.
"You know when you play Gary Anderson that you need to play well - you can't afford any mistakes and you need to play well in every leg.
"We're both doing really well and are both on four points, so we'll see what happens on Thursday. It's the number one in the world against the World Champion - it's going to be a cracker."
While van Gerwen has now won 31 of his 32 games since that World Championship defeat to Anderson, the Scottish star has also begun the Premier League season in brilliant style with wins over Phil Taylor and Peter Wright.
"I know Michael's going to raise his game when he plays me and I will too - I've got a little battle going on at the moment in my head that he's the boy to beat," said Anderson, the 2011 Premier League champion.
"I want to play well against him and he'll be the same so I'm looking forward to it. I've had a couple of good results so far and I'm happy with how I'm playing.
"The pressure won't be on me - he's the number one at the moment, I've just won the World Championship."
The visit to Liverpool also sees St Helens duo Bunting and Chisnall taking to the stage in Merseyside in front of over 7,000 fans at the Echo Arena.
Former Lakeside Champion Bunting will meet 16-time World Champion Taylor on Thursday, as the local star enjoys one of the biggest nights of his career.
"When the fixtures were announced, playing in Liverpool against Phil Taylor jumped out at me," admitted the 29-year-old, who defeated the Stoke great in last October's European Championship.
"The crowd is going to be buzzing, I'll have family and friends there and I can't wait to get up there against the best player who's ever walked on this planet.
"I'll try my best and it would be incredible to beat him. You know that Phil's a fighter and he's one of the best players in the world, if not the best, and I've just got to make sure that I produce my best on the night to get the victory.
"I know that I've got the game to beat any player, and it's about taking that onto stage. It's going to be a wonderful night."
Taylor picked up his first win of the season in Bournemouth last week as he overpowered Adrian Lewis with a 108 average, and admits that he has been impressed by Bunting's emergence.
"I've been impressed with Stephen for the three or four years that I've known the lad," he said. "He's a lovely lad, he gets on with everyone and he gets on that practice board - you don't know that he's in the room, he's like the quiet assassin!
"He's like a ninja, because he's in the background but he can play - obviously he's been a World Champion and you've got to be on your game against him, but I'm going to give it my best shot.
"It's an exciting prospect and it will be a tough game but a good game."
Chisnall, meanwhile, is aiming to maintain his perfect start to the season - having defeated Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld - when he faces left-hander Wade.
"You have to have a good start and four points so far is a good start for me," said Chisnall. "I ground out the win last week and you've got to do that sometimes, and it should be a good game against James.
"James is playing very well at the moment but I've just got to take my recent game up there and hopefully I can do the business."
Wade is also unbeaten, after picking up a draw and a win from his opening two games, and the 2009 Premier League winner believes that his all-round game is making him more dangerous than ever.
"I'm really happy with my start," said Wade. "I'm playing well, finishing okay and I think for the first time in my career I'm scoring better than I am finishing.
"If my finishing comes along with the scoring I've developed and found, I think I'm quite a force.
"I feel confident playing Dave - but he'll say and feel the same way. I'm positive and I look forward to it."
The night also sees two players without a point clash as reigning champion van Barneveld takes on former World Championship finalist Wright, while Belgian ace Huybrechts is also looking to kick-start his season when he meets Lewis.
A special charity challenge match at 6.30pm will begin the night's on-stage action, when the legendary five-time World Champion Eric Bristow takes on Liverpool FC hero Jan Molby over the best of three legs.
A small number of tickets for Thursday's Betway Premier League at the Echo Arena in Liverpool are still available by calling 0844 8000 400 or online at www.echoarena.com.
Betway Premier League
Night Three, Thursday February 19
Echo Arena, Liverpool
James Wade v Dave Chisnall
Peter Wright v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
Adrian Lewis v Kim Huybrechts
Tickets: 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com
Betway Match Odds
11/10 James Wade
7/2 Draw
13/8 Dave Chisnall
6/4 Peter Wright
7/2 Draw
6/5 Raymond van Barneveld
8/15 Phil Taylor
4/1 Draw
7/2 Stephen Bunting
Evs Michael van Gerwen
7/2 Draw
7/4 Gary Anderson
8/15 Adrian Lewis
4/1 Draw
7/2 Kim Huybrechts
For other bets and special offers, visit www.betway.com. Odds above correct at time of writing and may be subject to change.