Taking the jeers head on, Littler responded by telling the crowd exactly how Liverpool had performed against rivals Everton the night before. He gestured ‘2-0’ to the crowd to remind Reds supporters of the score in a game that may end up ruining Jurgen Klopp’s chance of winning a Premier League title in his final season.
“I knew what was coming tonight. They were booing me and I was just telling them what happened the night before,” Littler quipped afterwards before emphasising that he must expect ‘banter’ aimed in his direction just as much as he dishes it out.
“It’s just banter and as a United fan you like to see Liverpool as rivals lose games. Obviously I enjoyed the FA Cup win and them getting knocked out of the Europa League.
“But if you give it out, you have to take it. And I’m sure if I had lost my next game, that would have been all over social media.”
It evidenced Littler’s ability to brush off jeers and criticism with minimal fuss. The 17-year-old has remained level-headed since his dramatic breakthrough on the elite stage at the World Darts Championship.
Littler went on to win night 13 and took his total 2024 Premier League triumphs to three. He is top of the leaderboard after defeating Rob Cross 6-2 in Thursday’s final.
An 11-year-old Littler last visited the Bank Arena the night that darts icon Eric Bristow passed away on April 5, 2018. On what would have been Bristow’s 66th birthday, Littler returned to record a fantastic success.
“The last time I was here that was the night Eric passed away. I was only 11 and I was up in the stands with my friend. There’s a still picture on my phone somewhere from that night,” Littler said in a touching tribute.
“The last time I was here he passed away – this time it was his birthday and I’ve won, so it’s nice to mark it with a win.
“Wayne Mardle has always said Eric would have loved to watch me play. Obviously that helped me tonight – because I knew what was coming my way, but I enjoyed it.”
