Teenager Littler plays down Klopp praise

Teenager Luke Littler played down praise he received from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, describing it as “literally another day in my life.”

Klopp compared his young players, who helped the Reds win the Carabao Cup last week, to the 17-year-old darts sensation.

But Littler, who beat James Wade to reach the last 32 of the UK Open on Friday, is not getting carried away.

“I gave it a like and went on to the next video,” he said.

“That was literally another day in my life.”

Littler, who is a fan of Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United, added: “I actually watched the final and the young lads are doing well, but if he wants to compares them to me then he can.”

Littler averaged nearly 102 and had four 100-plus finishes as he overcame Wade 10-7 to reach the fifth round.

The teenager is now the favourite for the tournament after the opening night saw Michael van Gerwen slip to a surprise defeat by Austria’s Mensur Suljovic.

Dutchman Van Gerwen, a three-time winner of the competition, appeared to be struggling with an elbow injury as he was beaten 10-7.

Asked about his chances of lifting a first major title since joining the main PDC Tour at the start of the year, Littler said: “I have not even thought about it, but I know if my game is there every match then I don’t see why I can’t win it.

“I don’t mind who I play. It is what I dreamed of, playing in front of thousands every week, I just take it in my stride.”

Other winners on the opening night included world champion Luke Humphries, who beat Dirk van Duijvenbode of the Netherlands 10-7, while defending champion Andrew Gilding defeated fellow Englishman Josh Payne 10-7 and Masters winner Stephen Bunting overcame Danny Lauby 10-3

Nathan Aspinall, who won night five of the Premier League Darts in Exeter on Thursday, is also through to the next round after beating Scott Mitchell 10-6.

World number five Gerwyn Price is out after a 10-9 defeat to Martin Schindler of Germany, which saw the Welshman miss six darts in a thrilling deciding leg.

Schindler’s reward for beating Price is a fifth-round match with teenager Littler. Van Gerwen’s conqueror Suljovic will play Dave Chisnall, while world number one Humphries has been drawn to play Benjamin Reus of Denmark.

Day one of three-day event saw all 158 players in action, with the first four rounds played across eight stages.

The world’s top 32 players entered at the fourth-round stage on Friday evening.