Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis? Wayne Mardle picks a winner
Thursday 19 May 2016 23:03, UK
The Premier League Darts 2016 champion will be crowned on Thursday night - but Wayne Mardle reckons he knows who will win!
Michael van Gerwen plays Adrian Lewis before Phil Taylor meets Gary Anderson in the semi-finals - live on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7pm - before the winners will collide in the final.
Without further ado, here's Sky Sports expert Mardle picking his winner...
Live Premier League Darts
Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
Wayne said: I think Adrian will perform, this will not be plain-sailing for Michael. I won't tell lies and say Adrian is playing as well as Michael because clearly, he is not.
The likelihood is that Michael scores more consistently, not better. There will be legs where they're both sitting on 41 or less after nine darts, and Adrian must put Michael under pressure. He must let Michael know that he can't run away with it.
Adrian needs to take out the 104s and the 88s - if those combinations are not at their best he'll get beaten. Michael is the one to stop, and that's no shock.
The extra legs benefit Michael. The longer format gives the better player a bigger chance of winning. If it's over one leg, I would have a chance against Van Gerwen. Over 21 legs it's unlikely, over 101 legs I would have no chance.
Prediction: 10-8 to Van Gerwen. It will be close and it wouldn't be a major shock if Adrian won, but I don't think he will.
Sky Bet odds: Van Gerwen 10-8 - 9/1
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Wayne said: I've been in turmoil over this. This is just whoever plays better on the night - they've both been there, seen it, done it.
Gary is playing better than Phil and will feel better about his game. But Phil can be playing poorly and still pull something out. Let's not think Phil is going to get annihilated.
But of the two, Gary is playing better. Phil can produce things that leave you in awe but Gary has more gears. Gary can go from average-to-brilliant in a leg-and-a-bit, whereas Phil gets stuck in a rut.
If Phil starts off in a rich vein of form and has a swagger, he will be hard to stop.
Prediction: 10-9 to Gary, on the basis that Phil is not as composed as he once was. At the end of these long matches, you need composure. Gary has shown incredible composure in the latter part of the season.
Sky Bet odds: Anderson 10-9 - 9/1
Wayne's final: Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
Wayne said: Gary loves playing Michael. It switches him on, it gets him salivating, he relishes it!
Gary is odd because he isn't afraid to lose. A lot of players protect themselves against the very best, so if it's 2-2 they think 'it's the most important thing in the world to hold throw'.
Gary will think 'if I get broken I'll just try to break back as best I can'. Gary oozes the confidence that comes with winning two World Championships and a Premier League - he has grown so much in three years.
Prediction: Michael wins but Gary will push him the whole way. I expect a last-leg thriller! The world's best player will beat the world's second-best player. Michael will take out 116 with Gary sitting on tops!
Sky Bet outright odds: Van Gerwen 8/13, Taylor 100/30, Anderson 11/2, Lewis 9/1
Watch Premier League Darts on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 7pm. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
