Luke Littler reveals backstage Michael van Gerwen mind games in insight into life in darts practice room

Luke Littler has shed light on the ways rival darts players "try to get in each other's heads" ahead of matches - including Michael van Gerwen.

The reigning world champion was speaking ahead of Thursday's Premier League Night Nine in Berlin - which starts at the slightly earlier time of 6pm on Sky Sports Action - during an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast.

Littler beat Van Gerwen in January's World Darts Championship final and the pair would meet again in Thursday's semi-finals in Germany should they each win their first matches against Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price respectively.

• Premier League Darts table | Schedule, format and key info
• Got Sky? Watch darts LIVE on your phone! 📱
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW 📺
• Choose the sports notifications you want! 🔔

Quizzed on his relationships with other players on the PDC Tour, Littler said: "I travel with Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey - we've got the same management team.

"But with the likes of van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, we'll talk in the practice room, we'll have banter, try and get in each other's heads a bit.

"Just make it fun in the practice room."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

And asked by Gary Neville whether it was like a football tunnel, Littler said: "Van Gerwen, obviously we throw for bull before we go on stage.

"So he throws first and every time I'll go over to him he'll be like 'I'm ready for the bull'. [Littler replies] 'are you Michael, yeah?'

"And he'll go 'how many you want? Three darts, six darts before we throw for the bull?'

"I go 'I'll have nine, Michael' as we always have nine. I always win the bull every time!

"I've been thinking next time I'll say 'you know what Michael, I'll have eight darts'."

'That is Michael for you!' - Littler on MVG's reaction to nine-darter

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Littler last played Van Gerwen in the Premier League a fortnight ago in Cardiff when he beat the Dutchman in Night Seven's final.

The 18-year-old's 6-4 win included a nine-darter in the fourth leg of the match, which Littler record via two 180s then T20, T17 and D15.

When suggested by Neville that Van Gerwen had not looked happy about the perfect leg, a laughing Littler replied: "That is Michael for you!"

Littler suggests Taylor would 'struggle' against current stars

Meanwhile, Littler also told the podcast that he thought even record 16-time world champion and his childhood hero Phil Taylor would "struggle" against the level of current players in the game.

"I think it's a lot better now," said Littler of the quality in modern darts.

"But you still had Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow - it was still a good field, but nowadays I think Phil would struggle."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Asked if he could eventually overhaul Taylor's title haul, Littler said: "There's a record there to be broken but it's going to take some doing. He also won the Matchplay 16 times in Blackpool, so he's won two of the big majors 16 times. It'll take some doing."

At 18, Litter is the youngest world champion of all time, while Taylor won his first title aged 29 and his last aged 52 in 2013.

Asked if he could play on for as many years as Taylor, the teenager said: "If I don't have to then [I won't], if I want to then I will."

And in response to a question from Roy Keane, Littler said about what would have to drive him to continue playing for quite that long into his 50s: "Probably just the money, to be fair."

Premier League Night Nine - April 3, Uber Arena, Berlin, 6pm start

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Quarter-Finals
Nathan Aspinall vs Stephen Bunting
Luke Humphries vs Rob Cross
Chris Dobey vs Luke Littler
Michael van Gerwen vs Gerwyn Price

Watch Premier League Darts every Thursday night live on Sky Sports until the final in London on May 29. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - No contract, cancel anytime