Luke Littler showcases trophy during Premier League match at Old Trafford
Luke Littler showcased his World Darts Championship silverware on the Old Trafford turf during Saturday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Tottenham, which ended in a 2-0 triumph for the hosts, reports BritPanorama.
The teenage darts star brought his trophy onto the pitch at half-time, although the moment took an unexpected turn when Tottenham supporters began singing Michael van Gerwen’s name from the away section.
With their side trailing 1-0 at the interval, Spurs fans sought to needle the young champion by invoking his Dutch rival’s name. Littler responded quickly, directing attention to his trophy while holding up two fingers towards the visiting supporters. This exchange, however, was not shown on TNT Sports’ broadcast.
His gesture is believed to reference the two World Championships he has won so far in his career. The commanding darts player has grown accustomed to receiving stick from crowds following his remarkable achievements in the sport.
During his World Championship campaign at Alexandra Palace, the youngster experienced hostile receptions that initially unsettled him, though his performances remained unaffected. “I’m not bothered [by the booing],” Littler stated after one such incident. “Really not bothered. You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize so thanks for booing me. No-one wanted me to win but I proved them wrong yet again.”
Following his victory over Rob Cross, he added: “They want the underdogs to win, they want the favourites to go out. I just had to get it out of the way and get my job done.”
Just days earlier, Littler traded barbs with Newcastle supporters at the Premier League Darts opener on Thursday evening. After suffering a 6-4 defeat to Gian van Veen, he took to social media to fire back at the Geordie crowd, referencing Newcastle’s Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of Manchester City the previous night.
In a playful tone, he shared an image of himself watching the match on a projector screen with an Instagram caption that read: “Newcastle, you were brilliant, On to next week. PS 3-1.”
His appearance at Old Trafford coincided with Manchester United securing all three points thanks to goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes, with the victory made considerably easier after Cristian Romero was sent off during the opening period.
For the teenage sensation, it proved a doubly memorable afternoon in Manchester. Tottenham, meanwhile, remain stuck in a rut after yet another dismal day at the office. It’s a vivid snapshot of how sporting triumph can thrive amid rivalry and just how quickly the tides can shift in the world of sports.
