Anderson Can Secure Premier League Play Off Place

There are just two nights of fixtures remaining in the Premier League and the battle for a place in the top four and the play offs is hotting up. Both Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have now secured their places at the top table, with the latter moving ahead of the former at the top of the table after last week’s results. Gary Anderson is almost assured of his place on the final night and can guarantee his position with at least a point from his tie with Robert Thornton on Thursday night.

The final position is still up for grabs, with Adrian Lewis, Peter Wright and James Wade in a three-way fight for that fourth place. Lewis has 17 points from the campaign so far but he faces a tough match against sparring partner Phil Taylor on Thursday night, with the sixteen-time World Champion battling to regain top spot from Michael van Gerwen. Peter Wright goes head-to-head with James Wade, and with both players on 14 points, the winner is in with a chance of closing the gap on Lewis. It all adds up to what will be a thrilling night of darts in Manchester and the headline pick this week is Gary Anderson who should be fully focussed on claiming his place in the final four as he attempts to defend the title he won last year.

Night 13

Last week’s action in Birmingham saw MVG rise to the top of the table after he thrashed James Wade 7-1, and Phil Taylor was beaten 7-4 by a superb display by Peter Wright. The top two are level on 22 points but van Gerwen has a +35 leg difference to Taylor’s +32.

It was a good night for Wright and Anderson who both earned three points after doubling up. Anderson beat Raymond van Barneveld 7-5, winning the last three legs after going 5-4 behind. He then looked set for maximum points after going into a 5-3 lead over Wright in the night’s final fixture, but Snakebite hit back to win four of the last five legs to claim the draw. The other match saw Adrian Lewis run out a comfortable 7-2 winner against Robert Thornton as he put himself in with a great chance of making the semi finals.

Gary Anderson v Robert Thornton

Gary Anderson is worth backing to get the job done against Thornton at 1.36Bet €100 to win €1369/25Bet £100 to win £136-278Bet $100 to win $1360.36Bet HK$100 to win HK$136-2.78Bet Rp100 to win Rp1360.3600Bet RM100 to win RM136  with Betfair

The Scotsman has been in good form of late despite drawing three of his last four matches. He merely needs a draw to confirm his place in the play offs, but he’ll be going all out for the win against a challenger who has lost 10 of 14 Premier League games this season.

Thornton had a tough start on his return to the competition this season, from which he never really recovered. He managed to avoid elimination by the skin of his teeth on judgement night, but has since lost four of his five Premier League games in the second half of the campaign. With just six points he has no chance left of making the play offs, and only has pride left to play for. As long as Anderson turns up focused and playing the darts we know he can, he should win this comfortably.

James Wade v Peter Wright

Peter Wright is a tempting price at 2.10Bet €100 to win €21011/10Bet £100 to win £210+110Bet $100 to win $2101.10Bet HK$100 to win HK$2101.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp210-0.9091Bet RM100 to win RM210  with BoyleSports, Ladbrokes and Coral to beat James Wade in Manchester.

Wright hasn’t had a sterling season this year, but he is still in with a shout of snatching that fourth spot and looks to be coming back to form after that victory over Taylor and the draw with Anderson last week. Conversely James Wade had a cracking start to the Premier League but the wheels have fallen off a little of late with three defeats from his last four games. At one point he looked destined to reach the play offs but it may be a step too far after Thursday night.

Wright won their previous Premier League encounter 7-4 in February, and he’s also won on three of the last four occasions the two have met in all competitions.

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor

Finally we’re backing Phil Taylor to get the better of his old mate at 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183  with BoyleSports

There will be no room for sentiment on Thursday night as Taylor chases down top spot in the league and the £25,000 prize that goes with it. He’d been top of the league for a good few weeks before the results last week saw him slip back into second, and he’ll be desperate to get back there with just two weeks remaining. With leg difference so close, the manner of victory could also make all the difference and Taylor is expected to come out flying.

Lewis only needs two points to absolutely guarantee a top four finish, but a single point may be enough in the end. He has a healthy leg difference advantage over the chasing Wright and Wade, but he may have to wait until his last fixture against Anderson next week to secure his place in the play offs.

Tips Summary

Gary Anderson to beat Robert Thornton
Thursday 5th May, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 1.36Bet €100 to win €1369/25Bet £100 to win £136-278Bet $100 to win $1360.36Bet HK$100 to win HK$136-2.78Bet Rp100 to win Rp1360.3600Bet RM100 to win RM136

Peter Wright to beat James Wade
Thursday 5th May, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 2.10Bet €100 to win €21011/10Bet £100 to win £210+110Bet $100 to win $2101.10Bet HK$100 to win HK$2101.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp210-0.9091Bet RM100 to win RM210

Phil Taylor to beat Adrian Lewis
Thursday 5th May, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183