THE Unibet Premier League rolls into Liverpool for Week 6 and once again there's a stacked card of betting opportunities to get your teeth into. MICHAEL Smith's epic nine-darter in Exeter last time out may have come as a surprise to many, but not our resident darts tipster Paul Nicholson who sensationally called it at 33/1. Ignore Paul's advice at your your own risk!
Week 6: Liverpool
The Banker
When you think of Exeter, what player comes to mind? Not really anyone, no offence Exeter, but when it comes to Liverpool, darting fans and aficionados will automatically think of Stephen Bunting. The teenager who played county for Merseyside alongside local legends like Mick Brooks, Stevie McNally, Jimmy McGovern, Ian Gleeson and the Palfreyman brothers is now established and possibly the most experienced and accomplished of all the challengers in this years Premier League Darts. Can the Lakeside champion of 2014 continue what Luke Humphries started last week, by beating the full time PL guy and robbing them of points?
If he is to do so, he has to beat someone he has never defeated in Rob Cross. The Bullet's record against Voltage is not good reading – Rob got another one over him on Saturday in The UK Open. Rob has been trending very well of late, grinding out results and points and maintaining energy, belief and composure, but the swagger is returning in amongst all of that, and this is what makes the Cross camp full of beans, even though Bunting and Cross have pretty much the same camp as they share a manager.
It’s tough to pick a winner in this one, but going for Cross seems to make sense just now. As Bunting has the crowd, I think Cross will be able to handle the boo boys and girls better than the rest of the field and he will want to keep that 100% record against Stephen intact, hence my prediction. Also, this is a must win for Rob as he lies in spot 8 out of 9, on 4 points.
Selection: Cross to win (17/20)
Match odds: Cross (17/20), Draw (33/10), Bunting (12/5)
LIMBS IN LIVERPOOL
Who remembers back in 2017 when Adrian Lewis raised the roof in Liverpool?!
Be a part of the action this year https://t.co/vEYLlPex0R pic.twitter.com/054wX1wB9w
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 9, 2020
The Punt
When surveying the form of both Nathan Aspinall and Gary Anderson, it makes for some puzzling reading. On one hand you have a defending UK Open champion who was defeated in his first match in the event and then there is Anderson who wins games but loses out to Jelle Klaasen who hasn’t been stringing results together in the past couple of seasons.
However, when you look a little closer you start to see what’s going on. Jelle was on a hot streak in Minehead and was a tiny bit better than Gary, who also beat Steve Beaton and Simon Stevenson quite well. On the other hand, there was a lot of frustration with Gary’s game and he has now admitted that work has to be done to retrieve the angle of entry he desires for the darts, plus the scoring sustainability he once thought was automatic.
When you see those challenges manifest themselves in a match, he is there for the taking. Aspinall only lost his fourth round match in Minehead because he played a destructive MVG, and he himself played superbly, so with Anderson losing to Humphries last week and not looking imperious at Butlins, there may be scope for some Aspinall action in this one. I have chosen the win for Nathan and to be done in less than 12 legs played. I would’ve used most 180s as well but you’d be a fool to back against Gary in any 180 race.
Selections: Aspinall -2.5 legs (5/2)
Match odds: Anderson (8/5), Draw (3/1), Aspinall (5/4)
Click here for all Premier League Darts Week 6 betting
The Longshot
A lot of people will probably think that Snakebite is bound to get the points this week based on how he threw in Exeter and how he only left Minehead without a bigger run because of the shear brilliance of Daryl Gurney, but I just want to bring some things to your attention before you automatically assume this.
This is a home match for Michael Smith as he lives in St Helens, a mere 16 miles from the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Living so close and probably having a lot of the positive influences in his life in attendance will most definitely fire him up. Add to that how he is playing which is terrifically. Another win over MVG a week back and solid displays without silverware at the weekend tell everyone that Bully Boy is buzzing and doing things that don’t make rankings sense.
With Peter hitting the 50 mark in years on Tuesday the 10th, he will want to signpost his week with two points but I see more value in Smith this time around if he is in the mood. The two big matches they’ve had in 2020 have resulted in a win a piece but the fact of the matter is, Smith should’ve won both of them. So, when you look at Smith in the wagering, you have a plentitude of options, but below is what I think could be a decent long-shot come Liverpool Night 6.
PS. Notice how I didn’t touch the Durrant vs Gurney match. By the way, Hi Glen.
Selection: King of the Oche – Smith (13/2)
Match odds: Smith (9/5), Draw (33/10), Wright (11/10)
