Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor to draw –
Call us cagey, but we’re omitting the first match of the evening from our Boost this week.
Adrian Lewis, who is joint bottom of the league with just three points so far, has been typically difficult to predict all season.
He performed impressively in defeat to the unstoppable Peter Wright last week, though his losing average of 109.15 was aided by restricted checkout opportunities.
Phil Taylor, on the other hand, is yet to lose a match and tops the table, despite hitting the fewest 180s and only having the sixth-highest combined average in the tournament so far.
Yet having scrapped his way to three unlikely draws already – and with Lewis throwing first – this is Glasgow’s likeliest stalemate.
Peter Wright to beat James Wade –
It is no exaggeration to say that Peter Wright is in the form of his life right now.
Wright followed up three recent UK Open qualifier victories by winning the main event in Minehead on Sunday – the first major televised PDC title of his career.
His Premier League performances have been equally impressive, blowing away Gary Anderson a fortnight ago before recording the second-highest televised average in history against Adrian Lewis last week.
James Wade, meanwhile, lost his first game of the tournament to Dave Chisnall in Exeter, spurning seven darts to secure a draw despite only averaging 89.35.
With Snakebite winning both of their encounters in this competition last season, he looks a sure thing to start us off.
Michael van Gerwen to beat Kim Huybrechts –
A back injury meant that Michael van Gerwen was forced to miss both last week’s Premier League action and the chance to defend his UK Open title at the weekend.
He is fortunate, then, to be making his return against the one player yet to record a win this season: Kim Huybrechts.
The Hurricane was beaten 10-9 by Alan Norris in the UK Open quarter-finals, and is highly unlikely to make the most of any potential rustiness from the world No.1.
MVG comfortably won the pair’s only previous Premier League match 7-3 in 2015.
And having also been victorious in their last nine meetings, don’t expect a surprise in this one.
Jelle Klaasen to beat Raymond van Barneveld –
In the one comparative upset of the night, we’re backing Jelle Klaasen to overcome Raymond van Barneveld.
Barney has had no problem scoring this season, hitting the second-highest number of 180s so far – behind only Dave Chisnall, who has played a game more – but his finishing has badly let him down.
His checkout percentage of 30 is the lowest of all 10 players, while last week’s conversion rate of two doubles from 14 attempts was the worst of anyone so far this season.
Klaasen can also take confidence from the fact that he won all three games against his compatriot – who he famously beat in the 2006 BDO World Championship final – since 2015.
With The Cobra throwing first, a profligate Barney may struggle to reel him back in.
Don’t be surprised to see the slight underdog prevail here.
Gary Anderson to beat Dave Chisnall –
It goes to show just how tight this year’s Premier League is that Dave Chisnall will go into the final match of the night above world No.2 Gary Anderson.
Chizzy did well to take full advantage of his double header last week in MVG’s absence, though he was slightly fortunate that his two matches came against two off-colour opponents in James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld.
Anderson, meanwhile, has won just one of his first five matches, despite playing some excellent darts – throwing eight 180s last week alone and boasting the highest combined checkout percentage of any player so far.
Having won seven of his last eight games against Chisnall, the Flying Scotsman – who will be roared on by a vociferous home crowd – ought to finally get his season off the ground in Glasgow.
