On a charged evening at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, 18-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler, known as “The Nuke,” ignited the crowd with a provocative gesture during his Premier League Darts walkout on April 24, 2025. As he stepped onto the stage for his quarter-final match against Michael van Gerwen, Littler, a vocal Manchester United supporter, faced a barrage of boos from the Merseyside faithful. Unfazed, he leaned into the hostility, flashing a cheeky “2-0” hand gesture to taunt the crowd about Liverpool FC’s recent 2-0 defeat to rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby. The bold move, coupled with his animated interactions throughout the night, amplified the electric atmosphere and underscored Littler’s growing reputation as a showman who thrives under pressure.
Littler’s entrance was a calculated jab at the local fans, who were still reeling from Everton’s victory, their first at Goodison Park against Liverpool since 2010. The teenager, hailing from nearby Warrington, had anticipated the hostile reception. “Like my manager said, expect the worst and if it’s not that bad, I’ll take it as a positive,” Littler remarked before the match, embracing his role as the pantomime villain. As he strode to the oche, he cupped his ears to amplify the jeers and even placed his hands on his head, laughing off the crowd’s fervor. The gesture sparked an immediate reaction, with boos intensifying as his first dart bounced out, though Littler quickly silenced detractors with a wink after clinching the opening leg.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Littler surged to a commanding 4-0 lead against seven-time Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen, showcasing his trademark precision with a stunning 160 checkout that prompted a defiant nod to the crowd. “Sublime from Littler as he silences the Liverpool crowd with a 160 checkout to lead 5-3,” one observer noted, capturing the moment’s intensity. However, Van Gerwen, fueled by the partisan support, mounted a remarkable comeback, clawing back to win 6-5 after Littler missed crucial match darts at tops and double 10. The defeat was a rare stumble for Littler, who had been chasing a record fifth nightly win of the 2025 Premier League season. Despite the loss, he remained atop the league standings with 30 points, closely followed by Luke Humphries at 26 and Gerwyn Price, the night’s eventual winner, at 20.
Littler’s antics were not without controversy. Former darts player Vincent van der Voort criticized the teenager’s crowd engagement, warning, “Sure, you can provoke the crowd, but you have to be able to take it when it comes back at you.” Van der Voort suggested that the booing, particularly from Liverpool fans still smarting from Littler’s 2024 taunts—when he mocked the same 2-0 derby scoreline—may have contributed to his collapse from a 4-0 lead. “Imagine you’re a Liverpool fan and you managed to get under Littler’s skin. That’s a dream scenario for them,” he added. Local hero Stephen Bunting, a Liverpool supporter, had also cautioned Littler about the crowd’s long memory, noting, “I was there as a fan last year, and he was mocking us for getting beat 2-0 by Everton, and I don’t think people forget stuff like that.”
The night belonged to Gerwyn Price, who capitalized on Littler’s exit to claim victory. Price, the 2021 world champion, defeated Chris Dobey 6-2 in the quarter-finals and Luke Humphries 6-4 in the final, averaging an impressive 104.43 across his matches. “When I’m on my game, I am the best in the world. I’m just a little inconsistent,” Price declared, signaling his intent to challenge for the Premier League title. His win marked the fifth different nightly victor in as many weeks, highlighting the fierce competition as the league phase nears its climax.
Littler’s crowd-baiting antics are part of his evolving persona in the darts world, where his youth and bravado have made him both a fan favorite and a target. His vocal support for Manchester United and penchant for goading rival fans—evident in social media posts mocking Liverpool’s 2024 Europa League exit and Jurgen Klopp’s final season—have fueled tensions in venues like Liverpool and Leeds. Yet, Littler remains undeterred. “Fans can’t really take the banter, but that’s all I do, have a bit of banter,” he said, shrugging off the jeers. His ability to channel hostility into performance has been a hallmark of his rapid rise, from a World Championship finalist at 16 to the reigning Premier League and world champion at 18.
As the Premier League heads toward its finale at London’s O2 Arena on May 29, 2025, Littler’s Liverpool performance, though ending in defeat, underscored his resilience and flair for the spotlight. With Nathan Aspinall, Humphries, and Price vying for play-off spots, the race remains tight, but Littler’s 11-match unbeaten streak against Aspinall and his league-leading points tally make him a formidable contender. Whether he’s taunting crowds or landing 180s, Littler continues to redefine darts, proving that even in defeat, he’s never far from the headlines.
# Luke Littler Ignites Liverpool Crowd with Cheeky Gesture at Premier League Darts
On a charged evening at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, 18-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler, known as “The Nuke,” ignited the crowd with a provocative gesture during his Premier League Darts walkout on April 24, 2025. As he stepped onto the stage for his quarter-final match against Michael van Gerwen, Littler, a vocal Manchester United supporter, faced a barrage of boos from the Merseyside faithful. Unfazed, he leaned into the hostility, flashing a cheeky “2-0” hand gesture to taunt the crowd about Liverpool FC’s recent 2-0 defeat to rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby. The bold move, coupled with his animated interactions throughout the night, amplified the electric atmosphere and underscored Littler’s growing reputation as a showman who thrives under pressure.
Littler’s entrance was a calculated jab at the local fans, who were still reeling from Everton’s victory, their first at Goodison Park against Liverpool since 2010. The teenager, hailing from nearby Warrington, had anticipated the hostile reception. “Like my manager said, expect the worst and if it’s not that bad, I’ll take it as a positive,” Littler remarked before the match, embracing his role as the pantomime villain. As he strode to the oche, he cupped his ears to amplify the jeers and even placed his hands on his head, laughing off the crowd’s fervor. The gesture sparked an immediate reaction, with boos intensifying as his first dart bounced out, though Littler quickly silenced detractors with a wink after clinching the opening leg.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Littler surged to a commanding 4-0 lead against seven-time Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen, showcasing his trademark precision with a stunning 160 checkout that prompted a defiant nod to the crowd. “Sublime from Littler as he silences the Liverpool crowd with a 160 checkout to lead 5-3,” one observer noted, capturing the moment’s intensity. However, Van Gerwen, fueled by the partisan support, mounted a remarkable comeback, clawing back to win 6-5 after Littler missed crucial match darts at tops and double 10. The defeat was a rare stumble for Littler, who had been chasing a record fifth nightly win of the 2025 Premier League season. Despite the loss, he remained atop the league standings with 30 points, closely followed by Luke Humphries at 26 and Gerwyn Price, the night’s eventual winner, at 20.
Littler’s antics were not without controversy. Former darts player Vincent van der Voort criticized the teenager’s crowd engagement, warning, “Sure, you can provoke the crowd, but you have to be able to take it when it comes back at you.” Van der Voort suggested that the booing, particularly from Liverpool fans still smarting from Littler’s 2024 taunts—when he mocked the same 2-0 derby scoreline—may have contributed to his collapse from a 4-0 lead. “Imagine you’re a Liverpool fan and you managed to get under Littler’s skin. That’s a dream scenario for them,” he added. Local hero Stephen Bunting, a Liverpool supporter, had also cautioned Littler about the crowd’s long memory, noting, “I was there as a fan last year, and he was mocking us for getting beat 2-0 by Everton, and I don’t think people forget stuff like that.”
The night belonged to Gerwyn Price, who capitalized on Littler’s exit to claim victory. Price, the 2021 world champion, defeated Chris Dobey 6-2 in the quarter-finals and Luke Humphries 6-4 in the final, averaging an impressive 104.43 across his matches. “When I’m on my game, I am the best in the world. I’m just a little inconsistent,” Price declared, signaling his intent to challenge for the Premier League title. His win marked the fifth different nightly victor in as many weeks, highlighting the fierce competition as the league phase nears its climax.
Littler’s crowd-baiting antics are part of his evolving persona in the darts world, where his youth and bravado have made him both a fan favorite and a target. His vocal support for Manchester United and penchant for goading rival fans—evident in social media posts mocking Liverpool’s 2024 Europa League exit and Jurgen Klopp’s final season—have fueled tensions in venues like Liverpool and Leeds. Yet, Littler remains undeterred. “Fans can’t really take the banter, but that’s all I do, have a bit of banter,” he said, shrugging off the jeers. His ability to channel hostility into performance has been a hallmark of his rapid rise, from a World Championship finalist at 16 to the reigning Premier League and world champion at 18.
As the Premier League heads toward its finale at London’s O2 Arena on May 29, 2025, Littler’s Liverpool performance, though ending in defeat, underscored his resilience and flair for the spotlight. With Nathan Aspinall, Humphries, and Price vying for play-off spots, the race remains tight, but Littler’s 11-match unbeaten streak against Aspinall and his league-leading points tally make him a formidable contender. Whether he’s taunting crowds or landing 180s, Littler continues to redefine darts, proving that even in defeat, he’s never far from the headlines.
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