Image source, Getty Images

Michael van Gerwen made the first two finals, winning one, of the season but didn't actually win another match until last week.

He beat Luke Humphries and Josh Rock before Luke Littler needed two 170s to beat the seven-time Premier League champion - who now wants to kick-on this season.

“I think I could have a few more points, but that’s how the Premier League is,” said Van Gerwen.

“The feeling of winning is amazing, and the feeling of losing is always tough.

“I am always critical of myself, but to beat Luke Humphries in a direct contest last week gave me a lot of joy and a good feeling.

“I feel there’s more in the tank, and now I need to show it!”

Image source, Getty Images

It couldn't have gone much better for Luke Littler in Berlin last week, averaging 105, 108 and 106 to claim a third weekly victory this season after a slow start.

The world champion now tops the league and has something of a home fixture in Manchester tonight - and now he's top of the pile he wants to stay there.

“I’m feeling very good, better than the first few weeks,” said Littler.

“Obviously I won in Cardiff and Dublin, but Berlin was definitely the best I’ve played over a night.

“It’s been a very interesting Premier League. Jonny [Clayton] looked like he was running away with it a few weeks ago.

“Now I’m at the top I want to stay there, and they can all try and catch me!”

John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

Luke Littler is playing his best darts in the Premier League and maybe he's just peaking.

He looks hard to catch at the top, especially now Jonny Clayton has dropped off a little bit. It's hard to get that momentum going again.

So who will win tonight then darts fans?

It's time for a vote....

Sam Drury
BBC Sport at AO Arena

Image source, BBC Sport

You’d be doing well to get much of a view of the board from back here but this place will be packed to the rafters before too long regardless.

Manchester is normally a very pro-Littler crowd but while most are likely to be backing the Nuke to win, they’ll be craving a nine-darter more than anything.

Gerwyn Price delivered one last year, the place erupted… and then continued to boo him throughout his loss to Littler.

Image source, Getty Images

Just when you think Luke Littler has done it all, he produced a simply breathtaking display in Germany last week.

Littler hit TWO 170 checkouts to beat Michael van Gerwen in the Berlin final, including one in what proved to be the last leg to win the match!

MVG was matching the world champion before then and looked the likely winner, but The Nuke reeled in two Big Fish to complete victory.

The Dutchman could only smile as suffered at the hands of the teenager again - he lost a thriller in Dublin a week earlier to Littler in a match where they both hit 170s.

Read our report on a stunning night of darts in Berlin

It's looking omious for the rest of the league that Luke Littler is steaming ahead and he's not too far from basically banking a play-off spot.

Jonny Clayton took a hit with a quarter-final loss last week while Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen occupy the final two spots in the top four.

Still all to play for, behind the leader that is.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport at AO Arena

Image source, BBC Sport

The atmosphere was slowly building as I made my way to the arena a little earlier.

I did spot these outside, can’t say I’ve seen any since getting in but at least there aren’t any half-and-half scarves.

Quarter-finals

• Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
• Gerwyn Price v Luke Humphries
• Gian van Veen v Luke Littler
• Jonny Clayton v Josh Rock

Semi-finals

• Van Gerwen/Bunting v Price/Humphries
• Van Veen/Littler v Clayton/Rock

Final

• Van Gerwen/Bunting/Price/Humphries v Van Veen/Littler/Clayton/Rock

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome back darts fans to our beloved Thursday club, which means a night of top tungsten tossing action from the very best on the oche.

We've got another brilliant set of fixtures in Manchester as Luke Littler goes for a hat-trick of victories and a fourth in five weeks as he's really started to find his World Championship form.

He's pulled out some incredible performances lately, including coming from 5-0 down to win one final and hitting two 170 checkouts to claim another - even finishing it off with the Big Fish!

Who knows what we'll get tonight - so stay right here as we take you throw another action-packed night of arrows.