“I'm very close to Jonny now, three points off..." - Luke Littler hunting down top spot in Premier League Darts table after night win in Liverpool

The battle for top spot in the Premier League Darts is heading for a dramatic climax, and Luke Littler has shown in impressive fashion that he is determined to go into the play-offs as number one. On Night 12, held in Liverpool, the young Englishman recorded a commanding 6-1 win over leader Jonny Clayton, cutting the gap in the standings to just three points.

Despite the defeat, Clayton remains on top with 32 points, but Littler is now breathing down his neck on 29. With four weeks to go, the fight for the coveted first place promises to be thrilling, offering a favorable position for the play-offs.

The night in Liverpool carried an extra edge for Littler. The crowd was firmly behind Clayton and made it clear with boos and cheers at every miss from the young Englishman. Yet Littler seemed barely affected. On the contrary, he grew into the match and showcased his class on the doubles in particular.

Afterward, Littler told Sky Sports he was pleased with his display: "It was a good night. I'm very happy with myself. Usually the doubling is not there, but I'm very thankful it was tonight. A lot of crucial doubles at crucial times."

The final itself was a demonstration of Littler’s class. In no time he led 5-0, with Clayton barely getting an opening to get into the match. Notably, the Welshman had looks only at the bullseye in the first three legs, illustrating how dominant Littler was in creating scoring opportunities.

Clayton did manage to nick a leg to avoid a whitewash, but it was nothing more than a small bandage on the wound. Littler then closed it out professionally to seal the 6-1 victory.

For Clayton, it was a rare moment of vulnerability in an otherwise strong season. He remains the leader in the table for now, although he can now clearly feel Littler’s hot breath on his neck.

The field remains compact behind the two frontrunners. Gerwyn Price currently sits third on 19 points, followed by Michael van Gerwen on 18. Both players need to keep picking up points in the coming weeks to secure their place in the top four.

They are trailed by Gian van Veen on 14 points and reigning champion Luke Humphries on 13. They too still have a shot at the play-offs, though they will need a strong push in the remaining weeks to close the gap.

With his fourth nightly title of the season, Littler has sent another powerful message to the field. The young sensation, who has firmly broken through at the very top this season, is clear about his ambitions. “I'm very close to Jonny now, three points off. I'm going to go chasing - I want to finish top once again - and if it's not to be, it's not to be. But there's still four weeks to go."

Those words underscore Littler’s confidence and hunger, as he seems unfazed by pressure, expectations, or hostile crowds. If he maintains this form, it appears only a matter of time before he takes over the lead.

With four nights still on the schedule, the race is wide open. Clayton will look to defend his lead, while Littler hunts down first place. Meanwhile, the likes of Price and Van Gerwen are eyeing their chance to cement a spot in the top four.

One thing is certain: the Premier League Darts is heading for a nail-biting conclusion, where every leg and every double can make the difference. And if this match night made anything clear, it’s that Luke Littler is ready to play a leading role.