Man Utd fan Littler wins in Liverpool despite boos

Teenager Luke Littler won his third night of the Premier League season with a comfortable 6-2 win over Rob Cross in Liverpool.

Littler has become a fan favourite across the UK, but with the 17-year-old a fan of Manchester United he was roundly booed by the 8,500-capacity crowd.

He played up to it though, often cupping his hands to his ears, and signalling 2-0 to the crowd ahead of his quarter-final in response to Liverpool’s defeat at Everton on Wednesday.

Littler, who beat Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall to reach the final, raced into a five-leg lead in the final before seeing out the win after a brief Cross fightback.

Littler tops the table from world champion Luke Humphries and is now practically assured of his place in the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on 23 May.

“I knew what was coming this week and I was building up to it,” Littler told Sky Sports.

“I always engage with the crowd and the semi-final I was playing with complete freedom.

“I just felt comfortable tonight. I knew what was coming and I was glad to win.”

Littler often plays to the crowd and interacts with them, but tonight he reached a new level of confidence.

The night will be the first time he has had the crowd against him during his developing career but he took it in his stride superbly and used it to spur himself on.

Warrington-born Littler beat Price 6-3 in the quarter-finals, despite not hitting a 180, but his checkout percentage of 50% saw him through.

He was 5-2 down in his semi-final against last week’s winner Aspinall, but reeled off four successive legs to reach his fourth final of the season.

The World Championship runner-up raced into a five-leg lead against Cross, who had lost in the quarter-finals in the past six weeks.

There have been 15 clean sweeps in Premier League history, but none in 2024, and 2018 world champion Cross broke Littler in leg six to avoid that.

Littler held in leg eight and sealed a win that puts him five points clear at the top of the table and within touching distance of the play-offs on debut.

“It’s been looking tight [for the play-off places] the last few weeks but I’m glad to win and be clear of it,” said Littler.

“I’m happy to push myself away from the other people but I know it’s going to be tight for the other bunch.”