Long-priced Taylor

Sky Bet are offer longest ever pre-tournament price for Phil Taylor to win the Premier League.

Taylor attracts less interest than usual for Premier League title.

Sky Bet are offering their longest ever pre-tournament price for Phil Taylor to win the Premier League amidst tempered expectations of the world number one. 'The Power' has attracted less interest than usual for the tournament despite being available at 7/4, a price which drifted from 6/5 following his failure to make the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship for the first time in his career. Taylor remains the favourite with holder Gary Anderson 7/2 and the man who ousted five-time winner Taylor last year, Adrian Lewis, 4/1 to add the Premier League to his World Championship title. Simon Whitlock is 7/1 to land his first premier event title with 2009 winner James Wade 15/2 and the out-of-form Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld 16/1. Sky Bet's Darts Trader Craig Ibbotson said: "Taylor has showed that he is human over the last few months and, with Anderson the reigning champion, it would be no surprise to me to see a close contest between the big five of darts. "Going on current form, Whitlock looks the man with desire after narrowly missing out with Australia in the World Cup, but is still out at 7/1 given he is yet to win a PDC major title. "There will also be plenty of focus will on Van Barneveld after his first-round exit in the World Champs, and the Dutchman is only 7/2 to finish bottom of the league." The online bookmaker offer a range of Premier League specials for each player's performance, 180 totals and play-off qualification, including 7/1 for Taylor not to make the final four.