Premier League Darts: Predictions & betting tips as Gary Anderson faces Peter Wright in Sheffield

Following the elimination of Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price at Judgement Night, the 2018 Premier League Darts rolls onto Sheffield as the remaining eight players crack on with their quest for a top-four spot.

Three-time world champion John Part is once again here to give you his expert match-by-match previews & predictions, plus his weekly treble.

You can also listen to the legendary Darth Maple on episode 11 of the Sporting Life Darts Podcast (available for FREE on iTunes and soundcloud) in which he pays a special tribute to the late, great Eric Bristow.

Click here to listen to episode 11 of the Sporting Life Darts Podcast on iTunes for free (or soundcloud here)

John Part's Premier League Tips

Treble: Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith & Peter Wright (v Barney) - click here to back it with Sky Bet

• Van Barneveld to beat Gurney, score over 3.5 180s and checkout over 100.5 - click here to back it at 5/1 with Sky Bet
• Wright to beat Anderson - click here to back it at 5/2 with Sky Bet
• MVG to beat Whitlock, hit highest checkout & most 180s - click here to back it at 11/8 with Sky Bet
• Smith to beat Cross - click here to back it at 5/2 with Sky Bet
• Smith to beat Cross, score over 5.5 180s and checkout over 121.5 - click here to back it at 40/1 with Sky Bet
• Wright to beat Barney, score over 2.5 180s and checkout over 104.5 - click here to back it at 9/2 with Sky Bet

Scroll down for his full rundown of each match, helpful stats, bet explanation & latest table

Raymond van Barneveld (6/4) Daryl Gurney (5/4), draw (3/1)

Head-to-head: 3-1 (1 draw)
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 94.54 - 97.40
180s: 23 - 42
100+ checkouts: 4 - 5
Highest checkout: 167 - 121
Checkout %: 35.59% (42/118) - 33.11% (50/151)

It’s a pretty tough match to call but I’m going to side with Michael here because he keeps finding ways to win and get points despite not playing his best.

The first couple of games tonight involving Barney and Peter Wright are kinda crunchy – and by nature the last match also is as that’s between the pair of them.

This one is so hard to predict but I think Raymond has a good chance to win and he has a pretty good record against Daryl.

They haven’t played a whole lot but Raymond has had the better of things and he does need this more as he finds himself lower in the table.

Of course Gurney also needs a win in the race for a top-four spot but perhaps not as urgently as Barney.

I’m just about learning towards Raymond and in terms of wagers I’m going to back him in the medium Player Performance market which requires him to win, hit move than 2.5 180s and have a checkout of more than 100.5.

Aside from the win, which is the hardest part of the treble, they are pretty much child’s play targets for Ray and you can get 5/1.

Gary Anderson (4/5) v Peter Wright (5/2), draw (3/1)

Head-to-head: 24-13 (2 draws)
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 97.62 - 96.54
180s: 34 - 21
100+ checkouts: 9 - 5
Highest checkout: 170 - 120
Checkout %: 40% (52/130) - 37.62% (38/101)

The last time these rivals played each other it was brilliant, with Anderson battling back to get a thrilling 6-6 draw.

Gary has been by far the most consistent player in 2018 compared to Peter Wright but Snakebite is more needy here.

And considering they drew last time and Peter is beginning to find his form after a terrible run, I think the 5/2 on him just to win is good value.

That’s all I’m looking at. I think you’re getting a bigger price than you should be getting and there isn’t much value siding with Gary.

There’s so much on the line and although Peter’s inconsistency this year is a worry for this bet, we know he can play well enough to win this kind of match. He should have done it in the first meeting.

Simon Whitlock (10/1) v Michael van Gerwen (1/6), draw (6/1)

Head-to-head: 5-30 (1 draw)
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 94.47 - 103.62
180s: 26 - 35
100+ checkouts: 7 - 11
Highest checkout: 164 - 170
Checkout %: 38.64% (51/132) - 44.53% (61/137)

Nobody has a great record against Michael but Simon’s is one of the worst!

You look at the barrage of L’s in his previous matches against Michael – including all of the last 11 – and it’s got to be disheartening.

In their last meeting in Leeds, Simon did put up a good fight but Michael wasn’t really on it and he almost got in a position to take advantage of it.

Simon did play well against him but just not well enough. He just doesn’t seem to have enough in his game to handle MVG.

Michael is such a short price you can only really look anywhere else other than the match treble – he shouldn’t have too many problems getting the most 180s and high checkout.

It pays 11/10 but that’s pretty generous if you expect him to get a big win.

Michael Smith (5/2) v Rob Cross (4/5), draw (3/1)

Head-to-head: 1-6
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 93.59 - 97.62
180s: 20 - 30
100+ checkouts: 6 - 6
Highest checkout: 160 - 143
Checkout %: 42.75% (56/131) - 47.62 % (50/105)

Michael was the guy who had the best chance to knock Rob out of the world championship before his heroics against MVG and then Phil Taylor by missing match darts but this year he’s been the more consistent player.

Winning his second PDC title of the season last Saturday, he’s going to be feeling pretty good while Rob didn’t have much to shout about at the weekend.

How’s a guy who is in the top two 5/2 against anybody apart from MVG?

There’s a lot of value in that price and there’s no real need to do anything more complicated.

Even if Rob Cross is at his best, Michael can also play that kind of level.

That said, on the fun side I’m going to throw in a really super long shot bet.

Let’s assume Rob is playing fairly well and forces a long match that Smith wins, which is more than possible.

So if you look at the Player Performance markets you can get 40/1 on Smith winning, hitting over 5.5 180s and a checkout of more than 121.5.

If he gets the win I really think this is a possibility as he may well be forced into this kind of standard.

Raymond van Barneveld (7/4) v Peter Wright (11/10), draw (3/1)

Head-to-head: 11-8 (4 draws)
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 94.54 - 96.54
180s: 23 - 21
100+ checkouts: 4 - 5
Highest checkout: 167 - 120
Checkout %: 35.59% (42/118) - 37.62% (38/101)

This match is all the harder to rationally assess when both their previous matches are so hard to predict!

Nevertheless, I’m leaning towards Peter Wright because if he does beat Anderson, like I’ve already predicted, then he’ll have momentum but if he loses I think he’ll have the bounce back character.

I know he’s had injury concerns earlier in the year but generally I think he’s got better consistency and stamina to cope with two matches on a night more than Barney and have more in the tank.

They both need the win regardless of their results earlier in the night but you could argue Peter needs it more given his position in the table.

I like the medium Player Performance bet for him at 9/2 which requires him to win, hit more than 2.5 180s and have a checkout of over 104.5.

That’s pretty doable and if he wins those criteria shouldn’t be a problem.

Premier League Table

1. MVG P 9 W 8 D 0 L 1 LegD +32 Pts 16
2. Smith P 9 W 7 D 0 L 2 LegD +25 Pts 14
3. Cross P 9 W 6 D 0 L 3 LegD +9 Pts 12
4. Whitlock P 9 W 4 D 2 L 3 LegD +5 Pts 10
5. Anderson P 9 W 3 D 3 L 3 LegD +1 Pts 9
6. Gurney P 9 W 2 D 5 L 2 LegD -2 Pts 9
7. Barney P 9 W 3 D 2 L 4 LegD -9 Pts 8
8. Wright P 9 W 1 D 4 L 4 LegD -19 Pts 6
9. Suljovic P 9 W 2 D 0 L 7 LegD -13 Pts 4
10. Price P 9 W 0 D 2 L 7 LegD -29 Pts 2

Click here for the 2018 Premier League darts fixtures, results & statistics

Related Darts Content

• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode 11
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode 10
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Nine
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Eight
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Seven
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Six
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Five
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Four
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Three
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode Two
• Sporting Life Darts Podcast: Episode One
• 2018 Premier League darts fixtures
• 2018 PDC event calendar & results
• Sky Bet's darts odds
• 2017 PDC season results