STAR SPORTS TOP PRICE ON MVG TO WIN

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN reckons he’s currently the Manchester City of darts.

But the Dutch destroyer knows opponents still get a Pep in their step if they take him down.

Van Gerwen is being overlooked for success in the World Championship at the Alexandra Palace with terrific trio Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson all fancied ahead of him.

Star Sports have the three-times champ available at a top price of 11/1 to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy. To get this price click here.

Van Gerwen knows he’s not the top dog, but still maintains a belief his rivals get the biggest kick when beating him.

He said: “You need to see the reality that it happens a little bit too often and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“It is easy to say, of course, but if you don’t acknowledge something, you cannot make it any better.

“Look at Man City. Maybe they have the best players, but still they have lost the last few games. It can happen in any sport.

“If it doesn’t drive you forward any more then it’s the time to pack it in.

“Everyone is going to lose. Even Luke Littler lost three televised ranking tournaments in a row in the first round.

“Littler has arrived, Humphries has arrived, but still when they beat me, they are more happy. I am the one they enjoy beating the most.

“That is a compliment, 100 per cent, because I created that aura myself.

“I am not playing to my best performance levels yet and it’s a bit different to eight or nine years ago when I was winning tournaments regularly.

“But Barcelona used to win every game they played, know what I mean?

“I’m still the one they are pleased to see getting knocked out, I am the one they enjoy beating the most.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.