TAYLOR: YOU NEED TO KO VAN GERWEN

PHIL TAYLOR says you need to “knock out” Michael van Gerwen because he won’t lie down. 

The 16-times world champ has tipped the Dutchman to pick up a fourth title at the Ally Pally on January 3. 

But he also believes that old pal Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries will be a huge threat in the Paddy Power World Championship.

On MVG, Taylor told OLBG: “He’s had a few problems. I’m sure he’s put that right. 

“Now when I was talking to him a couple of weeks ago, I said you’ve got two or three weeks now to get ready for the worlds, and he said believe me I’m going to, and he’s just done a nine-darter in the final recently. 

“His form is picking up, and you know his confidence is there. So, I’d tip him to win it or to be there or thereabouts anyway.”

On what it’s like to play Van Gerwen, Taylor added: “Loud. Always shouting. He was just a good player. A very, very good player, and until you beat him you didn’t know where you were with him. 

You know you could never relax your guard with him. He’s a bit like a Manny Pacquiao. You’ve got to knock him out before he’d lie down because he just wouldn’t lie down at all, and Barney was the same. 

“They’d always carry on playing hard against you. You never got them until that man said game shot and a match.”

Taylor is also sure that Humphries and Anderson will be in with a shout of the title. 

He added: “Luke is cool as a cucumber, so he’ll give Michael a run for his money. I think that’ll be the semis.

“Gary is on a resurge at the minute. He’s playing alright, is Gary, and I think he is a dark horse for the world championship.”

However Taylor also fears for Peter Wright if he doesn’t have a good run in the tournament. 

The 16-times champ legend has outlined that Snakebite is defending £500,000 on his ranking after winning the title two years ago at the Ally Pally. 

Wright could drop outside the world’s top 10 in rankings if he suffers an early exit. 

Taylor said: “Well, there are a few players now defending a lot of money. I say career-ending, it’s going to be difficult to get back up to say the top rankings. 

“Peter Wright is defending five hundred thousand. He needs to do well, and I’m sure Peter will. 

“When I say career-ending, that’s a bit over the top really. But it’s going to drop them down the rankings a lot. And, also, it’ll affect them to earn their money on the tournament side.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.