In the electric atmosphere of Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, 18-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler, known as “The Nuke,” faced a cauldron of hostility during Night 12 of the 2025 BetMGM Premier League Darts. The Manchester United-supporting teenager, who had anticipated a rough reception, was greeted with a chorus of boos from the Merseyside crowd, a reaction fueled by his football allegiance and past provocations. Yet, Littler’s response—both on and off the oche—revealed a young star undaunted by the jeers, even as he suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 defeat to Michael van Gerwen after leading 4-0. “One of the best nights on the Premier League calendar coming up tomorrow, bring on the boos Liverpool,” Littler had posted on social media the day before, embracing the challenge with a defiance that defined his night.
The stage was set for drama as Littler, the Premier League table leader with four nightly wins and 30 points, stepped into a venue where he had triumphed 12 months earlier. His allegiance to Manchester United, coupled with a 2024 social media jab comparing himself to Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp—“What is the difference between Luke Littler & Jurgen Klopp? Littler has more trebles!”—ensured a hostile welcome. Local hero Stephen Bunting, a Liverpool FC fan, had warned that Littler’s antics, including his reaction to boos in Germany, might rattle him. “I reckon he’s going to cop a few boos from a Liverpool crowd… I don’t think he likes it,” Bunting said, suggesting the teenager’s confidence could waver.
Littler, however, seemed to thrive on the adversity early on. Against Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, he stormed to a 4-0 lead, his darts sizzling with an average over 100. The crowd’s boos intensified as he missed a dart to extend his lead to 5-0, and the momentum shifted. Van Gerwen, backed by the partisan fans, clawed back, capitalizing on Littler’s missed doubles—including two for a 6-lettere and two for a 6-3 win. The final leg was a gut-wrenching 6-5 loss for Littler, who later admitted the crowd’s hostility affected him. “My approach is to expect the worst – and if it’s not as bad as I feared, I’ll take that as a positive for myself,” Littler had said before the match, a mindset that showed his resilience despite the collapse.
Post-match, Littler’s frustration boiled over. As he exited the stage, he gestured angrily at the crowd, prompting security to usher him backstage. The meltdown, caught on camera, marked a rare crack in the teenager’s usually unflappable demeanor. “I had a little headloss moment, as some of us players do,” Littler later reflected, acknowledging the emotional toll of the night. The defeat trimmed his Premier League lead to seven points over World No. 1 Luke Humphries, who fell 6-4 to Gerwyn Price in the final, with Price’s 104 average earning him his third nightly win of 2025.
Littler’s Liverpool saga underscores his polarizing presence in darts. His meteoric rise—world champion at 18, a World Darts Federation record-breaker, and a Premier League pacesetter—has made him a lightning rod for attention. While adored in many UK venues, his Manchester United fandom and brash confidence draw ire in places like Liverpool and Newcastle, where he’s faced similar boos. “I just don’t get it, and I can’t explain it,” Littler said of the hostility, suggesting crowds target him for his English roots or sheer dominance.
Despite the loss, Littler’s season remains stellar. With 18 match wins and over 100 maximums in the Premier League, he’s a favorite for the May 29 playoffs at London’s O2 Arena. His playful taunts, like joking back at the Liverpool crowd during his walk-on to Pitbull’s “Greenlight,” show a maturity beyond his years. Yet, moments like his off-stage outburst reveal the pressure of being a teenage superstar. As Bunting noted, “Sometimes you can bring it on yourself,” a reminder that Littler’s bold persona is both his strength and his Achilles’ heel.
As the Premier League heads to its next stop, Littler’s Liverpool experience will linger—a night of brilliance, collapse, and raw emotion. Whether he channels the boos into more victories or lets them rattle him further will shape his legacy. For now, “The Nuke” remains a darts phenomenon, one dart away from silencing the doubters or igniting their fury anew.