Taylor and Anderson fight for top four berth in Manchester

Premier League Darts is now in its 12th week and, with the season nearing the latter stages, the battle to finish in the play-off places is now hotting up.

Arguably six players remain in contention for the top four, with just three rounds of the competition to go, before the semi-finals. Scottish duo Robert Thornton and Gary Anderson both face two matches on the night at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester, including against each other at the death.

Robert Thornton v Peter Wright
Both Scots have lost their last three in the league, and it is fair to say this match-up could be a nervy encounter, with a few breaks. The previously confident Snakebite Wright has lost his swagger, but should be able to do enough to win (evens).

Thornton (7/4) is eight points behind the top four, and nine off his compatriot, and with no victories in his last eight matches, his play-off hopes have all but gone. Wright, however, still remains on track for the semi-finals, and is priced at 14/1 to win the league in his debut season.

Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor
A resurgent Taylor (odds-on at 8/15 to win) goes head-to-head with fellow Premier League champion Anderson (10/3), as The Power bids to stay in the top four. The duo sit either side of the play-off cut-off, with the former being a point ahead.

Taylor, who had a terrible run at the start of the season, has now won five out of his last six, including last week’s revenge defeat of table-topper Michael van Gerwen, is second-favourite to gain his seventh league title at 7/4.

Scotsman Anderson, meanwhile, is in good form himself, with three victories in his last four. He has beaten Taylor in his two fixtures, including 7-5 this season, so take odds of 11/1 if you fancy him to cause a shock and record that scoreline again.

Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
A couple of weeks ago, this would’ve been a colossal battle, but the duo have since gone in opposite directions after their last three league matches. Lewis has lost all of them, while Van Barneveld has stomped to successive victories.