Darts

RUBEN AMORIM urged his Manchester United flops to use Luke Littler’s world darts triumph to hit the bullseye against Liverpool.United travel to the Prem leaders on the back of four successive defeats — and without a goal in their last three.Luke Littler is at the top of his game – sadly Man Utd are miles off theirsCredit: GettyRuben Amorim wants his United stars to take inspiration from the teenCredit: ReutersHarry Maguire congratulated Littler on his victoryCredit: GettyBut Amorim, who has made the worst start of any United boss in 93 years, gave his team a rousing Luke The Nuke-inspired team talk at training yesterday.An Old Trafford insider revealed: “Ruben is well aware of the Herculean task in front of him and his players — not just today.“He wants the team to start channelling the same self-belief Luke showed in Friday’s world final.“Luke was unstoppable because he was determined to win.READ MORE ON MAN UTD“The players need to show the same courage against Liverpool.“They’re all pretty close to Luke and know victory against Liverpool would cap the most memorable weekend for their most famous fan.”United stars exchanged messages after watching Littler’s crushing 7-3 victory over three-times world champion Michael van Gerwen on Friday.Defender Harry Maguire, 31, congratulated Littler on his sensational win.Most read in FootballMan Utd fan Luke Littler triumphed in the World Darts Championship final on FridayCredit: RexCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSLuke Littler prize money breakdownHere is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner:World Championship 2025 – £500,000World Championship 2024 – £200,000Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000European Tour – £91,000Player Championships events – £71,500Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500World Matchplay – £10,000World Grand Prix – £7,500European Championship – £7,500(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000TOTAL: £1.43 millionHe posted a picture of the teenager with his trophy and wrote: “Ridiculous. Congratulations Luke the Nuke.”Littler became the youngest ever world darts champ with his phenomenal Ally Pally triumph.‘Don’t come here no more’ – Luke Littler’s darts coach reveals why they had to ‘get rid of him’ from the academy at 13The 17-year-old now wants to parade the Sid Waddell Trophy at Old Trafford. He said: “If they allow me to, then I’ll go.”Meanwhile, Amorim has promised he WILL get it right at United.He said: “I’m giving everything to help the club and we are going to succeed.“That is hard to understand in this moment but we ARE going to succeed.”And Amorim loved the way United fans stuck with his side during the 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle on December 30.The Portuguese manager said: “What happened in the second half was unbelievable.“To be really honest I think Newcastle turned off a little bit, but the supporters were amazing.“I cannot ask anything from the support, other than maybe a little bit more patience.“They’ve had a lot during these last few years.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I can’t say anything to the supporters. I know they are tired of this moment.“We need to do our job to help the supporters – and I will do my best.” More

JAMES MADDISON and Brennan Johnson were spotted enjoying the darts at Ally Pally just hours after Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Wolves.Ange Postecoglou’s men conceded a late equaliser in North London, before the Australian coach confirmed his struggling stars were “hurting”.Brennan Johnson and James Maddison were at the darts on Sunday eveningCredit: PAIt came just hours after the pair played in Tottenham’s draw with WolvesCredit: PAJohnson scored what he thought was the winner before Wolves’ late equaliserCredit: PAThe Spurs players have been given Monday and Tuesday off to recover from a demanding Christmas period – which has seen them play 10 games since November 28.And Maddison and Johnson – who scored Spurs’ second goal against the relegation battlers – shrugged off their disappointment to head to the darts to watch the likes of Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright.The pair could be seen smiling from their tables as they took in the raucous Ally Pally atmosphere.Maddison, 28, is known as a big fan of the sport – and often mimes throwing a dart after scoring a goal.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut it has been a difficult time for Spurs following just one win in seven Premier League games.After the match, Postecoglou said: “It hurts me because I’m responsible ultimately. I’m the person in charge. So of course it hurts.”When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think today they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy, which I don’t even know where they got from.”I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSWorld Darts Championship – top storiesREAD MORE on all the build-up to the Ally Pally extravaganza…All the info: News, features and interviews:”It hurts immensely. At the same time it’s my responsibility for where we’re at right now and it’s my responsibility to try to get us out of it.”The Spurs boss also explained why he is giving the players two days off.Tottenham fans protest ‘Levy out’ with black balloons as Spurs chairman akwardly watches on during Liverpool lossHe added: “It was always planned. We knew this is the first week where we don’t have a midweek game, so I think the whole group probably needs a couple of days just to get away from everything and recover.”It’ll do them good to have a couple of days to themselves with their families and give them a chance to recover mentally as much as physically.”Spurs have now failed to win at home in their last five league games – an unwanted feat not managed since 2008.While seven wins in 19 league games means they are a point nearer to the relegation zone than they are to the top four.Yet Postecoglou still believes his side can achieve something in the league this season.The Aussie, whose team are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and still in Europe, added: “I just feel that at some point we’ll get a relatively healthy squad and when we do that we’ll be able to perform at a high level consistently and we’ve already shown this year we can beat anyone.”There’s a chance there you can go on a run.”But at the moment that’s secondary to the first bit, we have to try to get some support for the players – both mentally and physically and in terms of numbers to give them the opportunity to play at their best.”Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur is now banned for Saturday’s hosting of Newcastle after a needless foul in stoppage time on Rodrigo Gomes earned him his fifth yellow card of the season.Had he waited a week, the cautions picked up in the first half of the campaign would have been wiped.READ MORE SUN STORIESPostecoglou added: “It was an unfortunate moment, didn’t really need to happen and I’d much rather he didn’t make that tackle and was available for the next game.”The players are obviously hurting, they want to turn this around and it’s not for the want of trying.” More