Man Utd fan Luke Littler loses his cool after Liverpool crowd winds him up during epic collapse

By Lewis Barnett 2 May, 2025 5 mins read 58 Views

I've never seen the kid like this before. Seriously. Luke Littler - the darts wonderkid who normally looks like he could fall asleep mid-match - completely lost his marbles in Liverpool last week. And honestly? I don't blame him.

The 18-year-old phenom (God, I feel ancient just typing that) was cruising to victory against Michael van Gerwen on Merseyside. Up 4-0 and looking untouchable. Then it all went sideways.

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When Scousers Get Under Your Skin...

MVG mounted one of those comebacks that makes you question if the universe has a personal vendetta against you. Six of the next seven legs. Brutal. And teh Liverpool crowd? They smelled blood in the water and went absolutely feral.

Littler - a diehard Man United supporter playing in Liverpool of all places - couldn't handle it. The kid who normally looks like he's playing darts in his bedroom suddenly looked... human.

Former pro Vincent van der Voort didn't hold back when discussing Littler's meltdown on the Darts Draait podcast: "Sure, you can provoke the crowd, but you have to be able to take it when it comes back at you. He's still young and needs to learn how to deal with this."

Every Liverpool Fan's Dream Night

Let's be real. If you're a Scouser and you manage to get under the skin of a Manchester United fan who then blows a 4-0 lead? That's basically Christmas morning.

As Van der Voort put it: "For the guy in the crowd, this was probably the highlight of his night. Imagine you're a Liverpool fan and you managed to get under Littler's skin. He was up 4-0 and still lost 6-5. That's a dream scenario for them."

I was at a similar match back in 2018 where the crowd turned nasty. My buddy (hardcore Liverpool supporter) spent the entire night texting me increasingly gleeful messages as the match progressed. His final text: "This is better than my wedding day." His wife wasn't amused.

The Kid's Making HOW Much?!

While we're all dissecting his mental fortitude, let's not forget that Littler is absolutely raking it in. Research from BetUK shows he's earning £5,833 PER WEEK in the Premier League. At eighteen!

When I was 18, I was living off ramen and working at a video store. This kid's making almost £6K a week throwing pointy objects at a circle.

He's played 26 matches in 12 weeks, earning £70,000 so far. That breaks down to £2,692 per match and £288 per leg.

The 180 Machine

Numbers don't lie. Littler has hit 128 maximum 180s in his 26 Premier League matches - nearly 5 per game. His closest rival, Luke Humphries, has only managed 69 (average 2.65).

That's like showing up to a gunfight with a bazooka while everyone else brought water pistols.

Plus he's got that nine-darter bonus - a set of golden darts worth £30K. I once won a dart board in a raffle adn thought I was living large.

Growing Pains

Look, the kid's a phenom. But even phenoms have bad days.

"I've never seen him like that before—he usually comes across as so calm, like nothing fazes him. This was a completely different side," Van der Voort noted.

Maybe it's exactly what he needed though? A reality check that when you're at the top, everyone wants to see you fall. Especially when you're wearing the wrong football colors in enemy territory.

Welcome to the big leagues, kid.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I replace my dartboard?

A quality sisal dartboard should last anywhere from 1-3 years with regular play, though this varies dramatically based on usage and care. Professional-grade boards like Winmau Blade 5 or Target Unicorn typically outlast budget options by a significant margin.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

Statistics

The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
The dartboard wire system known as "razor wire" reduced bounce-outs by approximately 60% when introduced.
Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.

External Links

How To

Setting Up Your Practice Space

The official height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches from the floor to the bullseye. The throwing line (oche) should be 7 feet 9¼ inches from the face of the board. I used to have mine hung too low and wondered why my game never improved at the pub! Measuring tape is your friend here.