Luke Littler, 17, taken aside by darts rivals and warned about his conduct amid fears he will get booed by fans
MICHAEL SMITH has revealed that he warned Luke Littler to “CALM DOWN” so he doesn’t get stick in Liverpool.
The ex-world champ, along with Nathan Aspinall, told the teen sensation to stop winding up Reds fans ahead of the Premier League on Thursday.
Manchester United supporter Littler faces Gerwyn Price at the M&S Bank Arena after several social media posts mocking Liverpool’s football woes.
After United had knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup in a dramatic 4-3 quarter-final he posted a meme online with the caption: “What is the difference between Luke Littler and Jurgen Klopp? Littler has more trebles!” He’s also had a dig after Atalanta’s win at Anfield.
Smith, 33, reckons the Warrington wonderkid is in for a tough night.
He said: “We say the right things to him. We don’t try to guide him off course obviously.
“If he’s doing something wrong, we say ‘listen calm that down’.
“We had a word with him the other week because he keeps winding Liverpool up like Klopp and everything.
“We said you’ve got Liverpool in two weeks, you’ve got to calm that down. We said you are going to get some stick on that stage.
“The only good thing he’s got, is that he’s playing Gerwyn Price. You don’t know whether he’s going to get it or not.
“Either way, one of them is going to get stick. I think Luke might be on the brunt end of it for winding the Liverpool fans up.
“I’m a United fan. I wouldn’t dare to wind them up, especially when you know you are coming here. I have a laugh with my mate but I wouldn’t put it on social media. So he’s going to get some stick for that.
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“He’s been sensible the last couple of weeks. He’s not give them much stick. What the crowd is going to do, we’ll have to wait and see.
“We try and advise Luke and tell him the right things.
“I still do wrong things all the time. I get told off for putting things on social media. It happens.
“I’ve got 16 years on Luke. I went pro the year he was born I think. There’s a lot of things I can tell him if he wants advice.”
Smith, who plays Rob Cross in a crucial quarter-final, has beaten Premier League title rival Littler four times, the best record for any player against the 17-year-old.
He added: “I think it’s just growing up around each other. He used to play in the St.Helens league when he was younger.
Smith’s social media troubles
“I played him in St.Helens singles, pairs. He only lived six miles from me. Now I’ve moved, he’s just five minutes from me.
“His brother works in the pub facing my house. It’s not far from where we are.
“I think he’s trying too hard to beat me because he wants to prove something.
“I just get on with it. I don’t hold grudges against other people. We have a good laugh backstage but he’s trying too hard.”
Smith has also come under fire for social media posts, especially sitting in a pool in Las Vegas smoking a cigar and drinking champagne stating: “World champ world number 1 and now life. Completed it mate.”
He added: “I can’t say much because on Friday I’m flying back out to Vegas!
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“Nathan’s coming with me. So we will be sat in the pool with each other!
“The only thing that came back to bite me last year was not practising. This year I’ve been working harder and the form is starting to come back.
“That Vegas trip was the best thing I ever did. Relax, chilled, regrouped, turned my phone off so I didn’t have to do any media.”
Smith is on course to reach the Premier League finals night but it’s still tense at the top.
He added: “I won in Cardiff but it’s been 11 nights since then. I’m in a good position now. Three points from third and six from the top of the league. There’s still 20 points up for grabs and hopefully I’ll get 20 of them!”
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has since joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
Check out all of our Luke Littler stories here.