Michael van Gerwen was on the end of two shock defeats in the Premier League last week in Rotterdam, as the world number one lost to Peter Wright on Wednesday evening before 24 hours later losing to fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld, but the reigning Premier League champion will head to Manchester Arena on Thursday night knowing that a win in his both his matches can see him crowned table-topper for the sixth year in a row.
van Gerwen will head into Thursday night's action with only a one-point cushion, as Gary Anderson and Rob Cross chase the superstar down, but with 'Mighty Mike' taking to the oche on two occasions in the north west he will know that wins over Daryl Gurney and Michael Smith will ensure he ends the campaign top of the pile, and duly earning first place heading into the end-of-tournament Finals Night at the O2 Arena next month in London.
Second on stage, van Gerwen will watch on with interest as Peter Wright and Michael Smith take to the stage first, and fresh from his victory over MvG, Wright will feel he has to down Smith if he is to have any chance of making the final four, but Smith himself currently holds fourth spot and continues to blossom in this year's Premier League, so this should be a cracking curtain-raiser in front of what is set to be a packed crowd in Manchester Arena.
The abovementioned Anderson has won his last four Premier League matches, and the Flying Scotsman faces Simon Whitlock, who sits bottom of the table, and has somewhat of a differing record to Anderson as the Wizard has lost his last four matches, and is six points off a play-off spot.
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Following on from his memorable win in front of his adoring Dutch fans, Raymond van Barneveld will face world champion Rob Cross in the penultimate night of the match, and Cross will head into this one as a red-hot favourite to keep the pressure on Anderson and van Gerwen above him, and a win for Cross would help him take a huge boost to secure a play-off spot, while Barney will feel he needs to down the Englishman if he is to surge his way towards the top-four.
Smith and van Gerwen will take to the stage for the final match of the night, and the latter will be a short-priced favourite to prevail, and if van Gerwen has the chance to secure top spot with a win over Bully Boy, then you can feel that the dazzling Dutch star will be pumped up and ready to give the fans a show on an evening that will see the Premier League provide its usual thrills and spills.
Unibet Premier League Fixtures
Night 13 - April 26
The Manchester Arena, Manchester
Peter Wright v Michael Smith
Daryl Gurney v Michael van Gerwen
Simon Whitlock v Gary Anderson
Raymond van Barneveld v Rob Cross
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
