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PHIL TAYLOR EXCLUSIVE: THE 3 THINGS LUKE LITTLER MUST DO TO IMPROVE

Luke Littler has to do three things to reach a new level of play entirely, according to darts legend Phil Taylor.

The 16-time world champion told the Double Tops podcast sponsored by BetMGM that back-to-back world titlist Littler can still improve despite his phenomenal performances on tour – with two crucial areas the key to unlocking his full potential.

Littler has been jeered at venues around the circuit and has notably taken to social media to respond, something Taylor thinks is a fruitless task.

“I think it’s something [crowds booing] that he’s got to learn – he’s only young,” said Taylor, speaking on Double Tops podcast sponsored by BetMGM, a new weekly podcast centred on the BetMGM Premier League Darts season.

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“He needs to get off social media and practise more to help stop crowds booing him.

“I don’t think Luke [Littler] is a villain by any means. Him not playing quite as well is great for the game, but I really like him and I understand what he’s going through.

“If he asked me for advice, there are a few things I’d say to him but I’ll only do that if he wants it. He needs to get off social media – put that phone down and just don’t keep posting things as a reaction. I have social media but I have people to post for me.

“I was always told ‘whatever you do, don’t have an opinion on social media’. Never say ‘I think Luke Littler was great on that night’ – don’t have an opinion because there will always be people who will take what you’re saying the wrong way. What I’m trying to say is you can’t win on there, so don’t try to!”

WHY PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

The 78-time major winner compared the amount he practised during his stellar career with what Littler currently does, while the Power also discussed a remarkable moment at an exhibition match which demonstrated the 19-year-old’s supreme level of ability.

“He needs to practise more; he literally does not practise!” Taylor continued.

“We did an exhibition together. I was there as the guest speaker and Luke sat there for about two and a half hours on his phone. He was playing Luke Humphries, who was practising like mad for it, but he was there just playing on his phone.

“I asked him if he was going to practise and he went ‘nah’. He then goes and beats Humphries 8-1! I was thinking ‘this is impossible’... but he did it.

“I probably did about eight hours of practice a day when I was playing. Not all in one go but in shorter, 20-minute or so chunks. For Luke to do what he’s doing with so little practice shows the amount of talent he’s got.”

Phil Taylor quotes

Taylor added: “He’s got every chance of getting close to what I did but it all depends on him. All this booing stuff I don’t know if he’s mentally strong enough to get through it like Gerwyn Price did.

“It does seem to have had an impact because he isn’t playing as well.

“Eventually it will stop but I think, at the moment, the thing I’d say to Luke is just go and play out of your skin. If you do that, the crowd will turn and be back on your side.

“Everyone wants to watch a good game and everyone wants to watch somebody brilliant, so as soon as he gets back to his best, the crowds will turn around.

“I had it in my career and it’s hard. I remember when I played Eric Bristow at the Circus Tavern and it literally felt like every person in the crowd was on his side. I got double vision at one point and, honestly, I was absolutely bricking it.”

LITTLER’S MISSING INGREDIENT

Taylor also explained how he’d spoken to Littler’s mother and had given her a bit of advice about her son’s nutrition during tournaments.

The Power told her he would often play matches hungry – as a result of watching Roman soldiers on TV.

“I was speaking with his mother last year and I advised her ahead of the World Championship,” Taylor said.

“I said ‘you’re playing for £1 million at the World Championship, don’t eat out of the hotel and don’t have takeaways – eat your food in your room.’

“That’s what I did. I’d read something from a bodybuilder about never eating outside of your hotel room because of the potential of getting food poisoning, so I would go to the supermarket and buy everything and cook it in my room.

“I used to set off the smoke alarm because I had a little air fryer or camping stove to cook it, but it worked so I kept doing it.

“I watched documentaries on TV about Roman soldiers never going into battle on a full stomach, so most matches I played I went into them hungry. I used to think ‘let’s get this done quickly so I can get a Chinese on the way home!’”

Watch the full episode of Double Tops sponsored by BetMGM here and stay tuned as new episodes drop every Wednesday.

Remember: with the latest offers and odds, expert weekly previews, tips, special features and more, the BetMGM Premier League Darts Hub is your front-row seat for the entire 2026 season.

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