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Teenager Luke Littler played down praise he received from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, describing it as “literally another day in my life.”<\/b><\/p>\n
Klopp compared his young players, who helped the Reds win the Carabao Cup<\/a> last week, to the 17-year-old darts sensation.<\/p>\n But Littler, who beat James Wade to reach the last 32 of the UK Open on Friday, is not getting carried away.<\/p>\n “I gave it a like and went on to the next video,” he said.<\/p>\n “That was literally another day in my life.”<\/p>\n Littler, who is a fan of Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United, added: “I actually watched the final and the young lads are doing well, but if he wants to compares them to me then he can.”<\/p>\n Littler averaged nearly 102 and had four 100-plus finishes as he overcame Wade 10-7 to reach the fifth round.<\/p>\n The teenager is now the favourite for the tournament after the opening night saw Michael van Gerwen slip to a surprise defeat by Austria’s Mensur Suljovic.<\/p>\n Dutchman Van Gerwen, a three-time winner of the competition, appeared to be struggling with an elbow injury as he was beaten 10-7.<\/p>\n Asked about his chances of lifting a first major title since joining the main PDC Tour at the start of the year, Littler said: “I have not even thought about it, but I know if my game is there every match then I don’t see why I can’t win it.<\/p>\n “I don’t mind who I play. It is what I dreamed of, playing in front of thousands every week, I just take it in my stride.”<\/p>\n Other winners on the opening night included world champion Luke Humphries, who beat Dirk van Duijvenbode of the Netherlands 10-7, while defending champion Andrew Gilding defeated fellow Englishman Josh Payne 10-7 and Masters winner Stephen Bunting overcame Danny Lauby 10-3<\/p>\n