LITTLER SET FOR HOSTILE LIVERPOOL RECEPTION

LUKE LITTLER is ready to walk straight into hostile territory and silence the Liverpool crowd with another statement win.

Former pro Mark Webster believes the teenage sensation will be “fired up” by the boos when he faces Luke Humphries on Night 12 of the Premier League. 

World No.1 Littler has already been jeered in recent weeks following his spat with Gian van Veen and the Manchester United fan is expected to get the same treatment in Merseyside. 

The Nuke sits second in the table, five points behind Jonny Clayton, who beat him in last week’s Rotterdam final to become the first player to claim four nightly wins this season. 

But Littler now has the chance to hit back immediately against big rival Humphries, who is just three points off the play off places in fifth and still chasing his first nightly victory.

Webster claims Littler will relish every second of the intense atmosphere. 

He told Paddy Power: “Luke Humphries and Luke Littler bounce off each other and they’re out last on Thursday night. 

“Humphries is only three points off the playoffs but he needs to get going as soon as possible. He can’t keep going further adrift. The performance levels have been there but every mistake he seems to make is getting punished.

“I can’t keep banging Humphries’ drum as I’ve been saying he’ll win a night for weeks now! 

“Littler’s going to be fired up. As a Manchester United fan he’s in enemy territory isn’t he! He likes to wind up the crowd in Liverpool and he enjoys the occasion. 

“Hopefully it’ll be a thriller and I can see both players averaging around a ton. Ultimately, I can see Littler winning and getting past his fellow Luke.” 

Littler silenced the crowd in the Netherlands last week, beating Gerwyn Price and Humphries despite being heckled.

He said: “It was exactly what I expected, the boos and whistles. 

“But I knew as soon as I got on stage I could do my job.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.