Thursday 26 February 2015 10:58, UK
Adrian Lewis admits he must raise his game for Premier League front-runner Michael van Gerwen, but believes ‘Mighty Mike’ can still learn from former world No 1 Phil Taylor.
The 25-year-old Dutchman has made a flying start to this year’s campaign and tops the table after last week’s convincing 7-4 win over reigning world champion Gary Anderson in Liverpool.
Lewis is lined up as his next opponent in Belfast on Thursday night, live on Sky Sports, and ‘Jackpot’ knows he cannot repeat the wayward finishing that allowed Kim Huybrechts to snatch a draw at the Echo Arena.
“I dropped a point there to be fair,” he told Sky Sports. “Kim stuck in well, but it wasn’t a great game by any means. I’ve got to put that behind me now.
“Against MVG, he’s in top form, so I’ve got to come out firing from the off.”
Van Gerwen responded superbly to his semi-final defeat at Alexandra Palace, racking up a blistering run of victories, and has suggested that he will be hard to stop this season.
But Lewis pointed to a recent tour win as proof of how he can deflate the Dutch thrower at the Odyssey Arena.
“Obviously if he thinks he’s in that kind of form, but I beat him 6-1 in the final last week,” said the Stoke man. “You’ve got to score heavy and take out your chances when they arise really.
“If you let him get in a lead, then he will jump all over you. You can’t afford to give him a lead. If you give him that start, it’s game over.”
You can’t afford to give him a lead. If you give him that start, it’s game over.
Van Gerwen often greets a leg-winning dart with an emotional celebration, although Lewis will be paying little attention to any antics on the oche.
“It doesn’t really bother me when he’s doing his chest pump and so on. I don’t really get involved in that,” he added.
Lewis learned his trade under the watchful gaze of Taylor, his former mentor, and maintains huge respect for the 54-year-old, despite their regular rivalry on the PDC circuit.
Comparisons continue to be drawn between ‘The Power’ and van Gerwen, the world’s current top-ranked star, but Lewis feels Taylor is still a cut above the younger man when on his best form.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s Taylor. It’s leg on leg pressure,” said Lewis, who suffered a recent 7-2 defeat to his old teacher in the Premier League.
“With van Gerwen, he’ll have a good couple of legs and then he’ll have some off legs, but with Phil every leg is consistently good.”
You can watch Thursday's Premier League action in Belfast on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm.
