Taylor Can Play Without Pressure in Premier League

Phil Taylor booked his place in the play offs last week in Bournemouth with a comfortable 7-2 win over Robert Thornton, and he has the luxury of playing without any pressure in this week’s Premier League in Birmingham. There is still plenty to play for though with £25,000 on offer for the man who tops the table, and at the moment it looks like a straight fight between the Power and Michael van Gerwen.

The Dutchman brought an end to his run of four successive Premier League draws with a double-header of wins last week against Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis, and with three nights remaining before the semi finals, just two points separate the top two. Taylor leads with 22 points and a +35 leg difference, with MVG on 20 points and a +29 leg difference. It’s a further five points back to Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis. Taylor and van Gerwen face each other on the final night of league fixtures in Rotterdam on May 12th, and that could be a decisive match at the top of the table. MVG is also practically assured of a play off place, and both players can be backed to win their matches this week as they fight it out for 1st place and that cash prize.

Gary Anderson is currently third in the table, but still has work to do to secure a place in the final four, and he faces a crucial two-game week with matches against Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld. While Barney has given himself a lifeline with two consecutive wins, Wright has found it tough recently and it could be another difficult night as he also doubles up with games against Taylor and Anderson.

Phil Taylor v Peter Wright

We’ll start with Phil Taylor who is worth following at 1.53Bet €100 to win €15353/100Bet £100 to win £153-189Bet $100 to win $1530.53Bet HK$100 to win HK$153-1.89Bet Rp100 to win Rp1530.5300Bet RM100 to win RM153  with Bet365, Ladbrokes and Coral to get the better of Wright in his pursuit of the number one position.

Although it wasn’t a match of the highest order – Taylor only landed an average of 89.61 – he admitted after wards that the win was all that mattered and said he wants to push on and make sure he finishes top of the league. We backed Taylor to win the Premier League at 9.00Bet €100 to win €9008/1Bet £100 to win £900+800Bet $100 to win $9008.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$9008.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp900-0.1250Bet RM100 to win RM900 the start of the season, and he’s now on a run of five straight wins. Once he’s got the momentum going the multiple world champion is very difficult to stop, and he comes up against an out-of-form Peter Wright on Thursday night.

Wright was quickly put aside by Michael van Gerwen last week to lose 7-2, and it’s now just one win in the last five Premier League encounters. He will take heart from the fact that he held Taylor to a 6-6 draw earlier in the season, but he has a tough task on Thursday with two games against two top players. He’ll meet Gary Anderson later in the evening, but it could be double-trouble. With just 11 points Wright is facing the prospect of missing out on the play offs and the pressure is all on him to produce some magic on the night. Taylor will be relaxed and focused as he knows he’s through regardless, and that could be the difference.

James Wade v Michael van Gerwen

Michael van Gerwen is chasing Taylor down in search of topspot and that £25,00, and he’s also worth backing at 1.33Bet €100 to win €13333/100Bet £100 to win £133-303Bet $100 to win $1330.33Bet HK$100 to win HK$133-3.03Bet Rp100 to win Rp1330.3300Bet RM100 to win RM133  with Paddy Power to beat James Wade.

Mighty Mike needs just a point to be absolutely sure of finishing in the top four, and he should get at least that against the only man who could catch him. Wade is in fifth place with 14 points – six behind MVG – but it’s probably a foregone conclusion that the Dutchman will be one of this year’s semi finalists. Wade is much more likely to be able to catch Gary Anderson or Adrian Lewis who sit locked together on 15 points, just a point ahead of the left-hander.

However, with van Gerwen battling it out for 1st place, there will be no respite for Wade and there could also be a little bit of revenge in the air after the shock result from night 1 of the Premier League when Wade defeated MVG 7.4.

Peter Wright v Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson can make it a rough night for Peter Wright at 1.67Bet €100 to win €16767/100Bet £100 to win £167-149Bet $100 to win $1670.67Bet HK$100 to win HK$167-1.49Bet Rp100 to win Rp1670.6700Bet RM100 to win RM167  with William Hill, Coral and Ladbrokes when the two play their second fixture of the evening.

Anderson failed to land the odds for us last week, missing six match darts against James Wade, but he’s given another chance to come good against Wright. The Scotsman won both games last time he had a double-header and he will be fully tuned up for this in the knowledge that another pair of wins would take him to 19 points and put him in an excellent position to make the top four.

Wright has a four-point gap to make up on Anderson if he has any hope of making the play offs, but after Thursday night’s action it could be as good as over as far as this year’s Premier League campaign is concerned.

Tips Summary

Phil Taylor to beat Peter Wright
Thursday 28th April, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 1.53Bet €100 to win €15353/100Bet £100 to win £153-189Bet $100 to win $1530.53Bet HK$100 to win HK$153-1.89Bet Rp100 to win Rp1530.5300Bet RM100 to win RM153

Michael van Gerwen to beat James Wade
Thursday 28th April, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 1.33Bet €100 to win €13333/100Bet £100 to win £133-303Bet $100 to win $1330.33Bet HK$100 to win HK$133-3.03Bet Rp100 to win Rp1330.3300Bet RM100 to win RM133

Gary Anderson to beat Peter Wright
Thursday 28th April, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 1.67Bet €100 to win €16767/100Bet £100 to win £167-149Bet $100 to win $1670.67Bet HK$100 to win HK$167-1.49Bet Rp100 to win Rp1670.6700Bet RM100 to win RM167