TAYLOR TELLS LITTLER: GET OFF SOCIAL MEDIA

PHIL TAYLOR has urged Luke Littler to ditch social media and hit the practice board as the teenage darts sensation battles crowd backlash.

The 16-time world champion believes the Warrington wonderkid must toughen up mentally and avoid reacting online after being jeered in recent weeks.

World No.1 Littler has found himself under fire following his spat with Gian van Veen on Night Nine of the Premier League in Manchester.

The Nuke was again booed in Brighton the following week, where he slumped to a 6-4 defeat to Stephen Bunting and posted a record low TV average of just 83.94.

But Littler still 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.

Darts legend Taylor has now offered some blunt advice.

He told the Double Tops Podcast: “I think it’s something [crowds booing] that he’s got to learn – he’s only young.

“I don’t think Luke is a villain by any means. Him not playing quite as well is great for the game, but I really like him and I understand what he’s going through.

“If he asked me for advice, there are a few things I’d say to him but I’ll only do that if he wants it. He needs to get off social media – put that phone down and just don’t keep posting things as a reaction.

“I have social media but I have people to post for me.

“I was always told ‘whatever you do, don’t have an opinion on social media’.

“Never say ‘I think Luke Littler was great on that night’ – don’t have an opinion because there will always be people who will take what you’re saying the wrong way.

“What I’m trying to say is you can’t win on there, so don’t try to!”

Taylor also questioned Littler’s practice routine, while still marvelling at his natural ability.

He added: “He needs to practise more; he literally does not practise!

“We did an exhibition together. I was there as the guest speaker and Luke sat there for about two and a half hours on his phone.

“He was playing Luke Humphries, who was practising like mad for it, but he was there just playing on his phone.

“I asked him if he was going to practise and he went ‘nah’.

“He then goes and beats Humphries 8-1! I was thinking ‘this is impossible’… but he did it.

“I probably did about eight hours of practice a day when I was playing. Not all in one go but in shorter, 20-minute or so chunks.

“For Luke to do what he’s doing with so little practice shows the amount of talent he’s got.”

But Taylor warned that talent alone won’t be enough if Littler cannot handle the pressure from the crowd.

He continued: “He’s got every chance of getting close to what I did but it all depends on him.

“All this booing stuff I don’t know if he’s mentally strong enough to get through it like Gerwyn Price did.

“It does seem to have had an impact because he isn’t playing as well.

“Eventually it will stop but I think, at the moment, the thing I’d say to Luke is just go and play out of your skin.

“If you do that, the crowd will turn and be back on your side.

“Everyone wants to watch a good game and everyone wants to watch somebody brilliant, so as soon as he gets back to his best, the crowds will turn around.

“I had it in my career and it’s hard.

“I remember when I played Eric Bristow at the Circus Tavern and it literally felt like every person in the crowd was on his side.

“I got double vision at one point and, honestly, I was absolutely bricking it.”

Littler returns to action on Thursday evening and will face big rival Luke Humphries in the Liverpool arena.

Image by Taylor Lanning.