MVG dismisses rival's title credentials and knocks Clayton's Premier League win

Michael van Gerwen does not see newcomer Joe Cullen as a threat for the Premier League title, while he has questioned the triumphs of Jonny Clayton and Glen Durrant in the competition during the pandemic.

This year will see MVG compete in the Premier League for a tenth time as he looks to improve on his incredible record of lifting the trophy five times in nine attempts.

As ever, he fancies his chances of doing just that, but he does cannot see debutant Cullen being crowned champion.

The Yorkshireman earned his spot in the Premier League by winning the Masters at the weekend, and while Van Gerwen rates the Rockstar, he thinks this will be a step too far for him.

‘Of course he’s a good player but I don’t think he’s a threat for the title,’ Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.

‘But anyone in this tournament can beat anyone. There’s only eight players and I think it’s eight really good players.’

After winning the Premier League four years on the spin, Van Gerwen has gone two seasons without lifting the trophy as Durrant triumphed in 2020 and Clayton last year.

Both editions of the tournament were impacted by Covid and played, partially in 2020 and entirely in 2021, behind closed doors, while the schedule was also re-jigged and played on consecutive days rather than weeks.

MVG reckons the changes led to the surprise winners of the tournament and believes he has a much better chance now things are more back to normal.

‘Of course I have my opinion about that. I think it’s also been different due to Covid,’ Van Gerwen said of the last two years.

‘In a normal Premier League you play week after week on the highest level and last year because of Covid they made so many games after each other to get it out of the way and make sure the tournament was done.

‘Everyone can play good for a week, but in normal times you have to be good for 17 weeks.

‘100 per cent it’s going to suit me, and with the crowd and everything, it’s going to make me a happy man.’

The Premier League is different again this year with an eight-man tournament each week, played down from the quarter-finals to a winner every Thursday.

Van Gerwen gets his campaign underway with a quarter-final against Gary Anderson in Cardiff on Thursday night, with the winner playing either Peter Wright or Michael Smith in the semis.

Premier League Night 1 fixtures

Jonny Clayton vs Joe Cullen
Gerwyn Price vs James Wade
Peter Wright vs Michael Smith
Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson

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