Van Gerwen: "Me and Raymond- we always have big games. You have to perform your best against him."
Thursday 29 March 2018 18:54, UK
Michael van Gerwen is relishing his all-Dutch clash against Raymond van Barneveld next week, after winning his top-of-the-table meeting with Michael Smith to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League.
'Bully Boy' capitalised on a sluggish start from Van Gerwen to move into an early 2-0 lead, but the world No 1 sparked into life; reeling off seven legs on the spin to close out an emphatic 7-2 victory with a 101.56 average.
MVG told Sky Sports: "I think my finishing was good on the end. I didn't make a lot of mistakes but at some points my scoring power wasn't there. I had to finish them [checkouts] because otherwise Michael would have been on my heels. He's a good player, his scoring power is there and you always have to play well against him."
'The Green Machine' takes on his fellow countryman Van Barneveld in Belfast next week and Barney moved into the play-off places after claiming a thumping 7-1 win over a struggling Peter Wright.
However, Van Gerwen is relishing the prospect of taking on his close friend and rival next week, admitting: "Me and Raymond - we always have big games.
"You have to perform your best against him, especially me as there's a little bit of a row going on between us two, because you don't want to let your fans at home down."
"In my opinion it is more difficult to win the table than winning the tournament, because you have to be good all those weeks after each other.
The reigning Premier League champion has won his last five league matches and is in confident mood heading into Belfast: "I'm in good form, not perfect but I'm playing good steady darts and I don't make a lot of mistakes because I've won the last five games and that's what it's all about; getting your points, win your games and get on to the next week."
Smith was the competition's early-pace setter after winning his opening four matches, but Van Gerwen now has breathing space at the summit, as he aims to top the table for the sixth consecutive year.
"In my opinion it is more difficult to win the table than winning the tournament, because you have to be good all those weeks after each other. Of course the last day is the thing that matters, but I want to be top, like I did the previous years.
"I like my form and that's a really important thing as a dart player. You want to get a rhythm going, the good feeling, the winning streak, because that gives you more confidence for the next games."
Nevertheless, Van Barneveld also heads into next week in fine form, with a draw against Gary Anderson sandwiched in between victories over Gerwyn Price and Wright.
Van Barneveld averaged 99.76 and converted finishes of 70, 72, 82 and 86 to inflict Wright's third successive 7-1 defeat, which sees RVB leapfrog Simon Whitlock in the table.
The five-time world champion sits in fourth place on eight points and is virtually assured of avoiding elimination, and he is relishing the prospect of returning to Rotterdam for next month's Premier League double-header.
"To play everywhere in the world is fantastic- it's great to get a reception everywhere you come, but if you play in your own country, if you play for your own people and the whole crowd is orange, it's massive. It's absolutely the best you ever could get," Van Barneveld admitted.
The 2018 Premier League heads to the SSE Arena in Belfast next Thursday, with coverage underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action & from 9.45pm on Sky Sports Main Event. Seven weeks of tungsten action will then continue through to the season's conclusion with the Play-Offs on May 17 at The O2 in London.
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