Betway Premier League Week 13: Phil Taylor to drop out of top four at crucial stage

The Power will be cut by Van Gerwen and left foundering

Phil Taylor has not been enjoying himself in the Betway Premier League of late. He has just two wins from his last eight outings and he is set for more disappointment this week when he takes on Michael van Gerwen.

It is not that Taylor has been playing particularly badly, but the ruthless finishing that he made his name on seems to have deserted him. He is still well capable of averaging three ps, but that no longer guarantees success nowadays.

Van Gerwen has also showed a little frailty in recent weeks, losing to both Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson. However, he also produced his highest ever TV average last week (116.9) as he whitewashed James Wade, so the man atop the table will hardly be worried.

With MVG in fine fettle and having comfortably won their last meeting 7-3 it is tough to see him not beating Taylor this week in Birmingham. Back the world number one at 5/6.

A Taylor defeat opens the door for both Van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis to storm the play-off places as they each play twice on Thursday night.

Lewis kicks off the night against Dave Chisnall who is still second in the table but is feeling the pressure a bit and has lost his last two. He is still playing impressively but Lewis is picking up more points of late with three wins and a draw from his last four.

These two are extremely evenly matched, as their head-to-head record shows, standing at nine wins a piece. Momentum can be crucial late in the Betway Premier League, though, and that is why Lewis is worth backing at 6/5.

Barney is also well worth a punt against the unpredictable Gary Anderson in Birmingham. Anderson is still on course for a top four finish but one win, two draws and two defeats from his last five show how erratic he has been.

The Dutchman, in comparison, looks sublime at the moment and has knocked off Van Gerwen, Taylor and Chisnall in his last three outings. These two drew last time they faced off but with confidence sky high at the moment, Barney looks unmissable at 2/1.

Lewis and Barney return later in the evening to face each other and it is a clash that is too close to call. Both are playing well but neither will relish a second visit to the stage and it could be a scrappy encounter.

Rarely does a week go by in the Betway Premier League without a draw and this looks a great option at 7/2. They have form when it comes to stalemates having finished level twice in this competition previously.The clash between James Wade and Stephen Bunting this week is a big one as the loser will be effectively eliminated  from the competition. The man facing that fate could well be Wade who is now winless in five contests.

The Machine was completely vandalised by MVG last week and he still may be reeling from that whitewash. Bunting had no such problems last week and pulled off the upset victory over Anderson.

The Bullet has four wins to Wade’s one in their head-to-head and with more momentum behind him he is generously priced at 6/4.Adrian Lewis to beat Dave Chisnall @ 6/5

Raymond van Barneveld to beat Gary Anderson @ 2/1

Stephen Bunting to beat James Wade @ 6/4

Michael van Gerwen to beat Phil Taylor @ 5/6

Adrian Lewis  v Raymond van Barneveld – Draw @ 7/2