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Thomas Frank has endured a miserable debut season with Tottenham Hotspur since replacing Ange Postecoglou with fans continuing to call for the return of Mauricio Pochettino

Thomas Frank claims chants from Tottenham fans for Mauricio Pochettino’s return are ‘well-deserved’. The Argentine enjoyed a brilliant stint in North London between 2014 and 2019.

He led the North London side to the Champions League final, as well as second place in the Premier League. And Pochettino remains revered by fans, with the club having failed to hit those heights under a succession of managers including Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.

Ange Postecoglou led the club to the Europa League last season before he was eventually sacked. His replacement Frank has endured a miserable debut season, with Spurs sitting 15th in the Premier League under his watch.

That has triggered fans into chanting for Pochettino’s return at games, something that Frank can fully understand. He said: “I met Mauricio a few times, great guy, a great coach.

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“I think he’s a legend (here). I don’t think he won a trophy, but he was part of transforming the club, from where it was at that stage, to where it ended up in terms of being close to winning the Premier League title. Getting into the Champions League final.

“If you are close, then you are very close to winning it. Sometimes it’s football, it’s margins. Pochettino did a top job here and is a true legend, so if the fans sing his name it’s well deserved.”

And while Frank can understand the affection that Spurs fans hold for their former boss, he has called on supporters to lend their support to the side as they aim to scramble themselves away from the relegation zone. The North London side currently sit six points clear of the drop.

What's gone wrong for Spurs this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below

“There's no doubt we are desperate to win games,” Frank said. “Desperate. And I'm focusing on Newcastle tomorrow.

“That's a great opportunity ahead of us against a good team. That's the main thing. Can we go out there and get three points tomorrow? That would be very good.

“And then climb from there and look forward. That's what we need to do. And that's the main focus.

“When you haven't won enough, you need to be desperate, because if you're not desperate, you don't understand the situation you're in, in terms of you don't win enough, you need to turn it, and win enough football games. That's what we want for the fans, that's what we want for the team, for the club.”

Thomas Frank's future hangs in the balance while Eddie Howe faces doubts over his future as Tottenham Hotspur face Newcastle United in the Premier League

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are in danger of recording their 11th Premier League defeat of the season as they face off in a bottom-half clash on Tuesday night. Tottenham’s recent four-game unbeaten streak came to an end with a 2-0 loss to Manchester United on Saturday, while Newcastle suffered a disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Brentford shortly afterwards.

Tottenham’s 2025-26 domestic campaign under Thomas Frank has been marred by disaster, disappointment, and a string of injuries. Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford was a microcosm of their season, as everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Cristian Romero picked up a record-equalling red card—another chapter in his ongoing saga with the club—while Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scored to hand Spurs their 10th league defeat of the campaign. To make matters worse, Destiny Udogie was forced off with an injury.

While Spurs have found some solace in the Champions League, with the round of 16 still weeks away, their immediate focus is on steering clear of the relegation fight. The reigning Europa League champions are now just six points above 18th-placed West Ham United, having failed to win any of their last seven Premier League matches and securing just one victory in their previous 11 league outings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Saturday’s defeat also marked the fifth consecutive Premier League game in which Tottenham have conceded at least two goals—a trend that could continue as their defensive injury list grows.

Both managers are under increasing pressure, with Thomas Frank and his Newcastle counterpart Eddie Howe facing mounting calls for change. Howe described Newcastle’s recent 3-2 loss to Brentford as a “harsh reality,” marking the Magpies’ third straight defeat in all competitions, following losses to Liverpool and Manchester City. It was also their third consecutive Premier League defeat and their fifth game without a win since their victory over PSV Eindhoven.

Newcastle’s struggles have left them stranded in the lower half of the Premier League table, though they remain closer to the top six than the relegation zone in terms of points. Howe has admitted to falling short of expectations during this difficult period. The Magpies’ away form has been particularly problematic, as they have managed to score more than once in only two of their away league matches this season—those coming against Everton and Burnley.

Despite these challenges, Newcastle have enjoyed recent success against Tottenham, winning five of their last seven Premier League encounters with the Lilywhites. However, their most recent meeting ended in a 2-2 draw, with now-suspended Cristian Romero scoring both goals for Spurs.

Tottenham vs Newcastle United Team News

As a result of receiving the sixth red card of his Tottenham career—his fourth in the Premier League and his second of the 2025-26 season—Spurs captain Cristian Romero will now begin a four-match suspension, ruling him out of the upcoming North London derby as well. Destiny Udogie is also expected to be sidelined due to a thigh injury, adding to Tottenham’s mounting list of absentees. The defensive pair join an already crowded treatment room that includes James Maddison (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Rodrigo Bentancur (thigh), Ben Davies (ankle), Lucas Bergvall (ankle), Richarlison (thigh), Pedro Porro (thigh), and Kevin Danso (toe).

On a rare positive note for Spurs, Djed Spence could be available again after recovering from a calf issue and may feature against Newcastle. If Spence is not ready, recent signing Souza is expected to make his full Premier League debut at left-back.

Newcastle, meanwhile, did not pick up any fresh injuries during their latest defeat, but it would be a surprise to see Lewis Miley return from his knee injury in time for the trip to London. Joelinton (groin), Emil Krafth (knee), and Anthony Gordon (thigh) are also set to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future, while Tino Livramento (thigh) and Fabian Schar (ankle) are not expected back for several months.

Following Saturday’s disappointing performance, changes to the Newcastle lineup are likely. Both Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock, who were substituted at halftime against Brentford, could drop out of the starting XI, while Yoane Wissa may also be replaced by Nick Woltemade.

Tottenham vs Newcastle United Prediction

Draw/Newcastle - 4/9 ( Betfred )

Over 2.5 goals - 4/6 ( Betfred )

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Tottenham are stuck in a perpetual crisis loop and are in desperate need of a win over Newcastle on Tuesday after Cristian Romero's lack of discipline left Thomas Frank even shorter

Thomas Frank is currently stuck in a cycle of lurching from one crisis to another.

Tottenham’s lame surrender at Manchester United, Cristian Romero’s red card and now just six points above the relegation zone. They could not get sucked into a battle for survival, could they? Well, defeat at home to Newcastle on Tuesday could plunge them into serious jeopardy.

And this season was never supposed to play out like this. There was always an acceptance that it would take time to turn things around but the fans certainly never expected to be stuck in 15th and trapped in a spiral of negativity.

First and foremost, there is a clear desire to give Frank every chance to turn things around. That is not in doubt. And there is a lot of work to be done on that front because the fans are far from convinced on a manager who does not play with the style and flair from the club’s best traditions.

But a huge part of that is improving the squad, investing in quality players and then seeing an upturn in results. There have been major wins from the lowest point, which was unquestionably the home defeat to West Ham on January 17.

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That day saw Frank booed, the mood in the stadium turn toxic and the Spurs boss’s future left hanging by a thread. It felt like his job was under serious threat.

Since then, Tottenham qualified through to the Champions League knockout stages - finishing fourth in the table - and that has given the club’s hierarchy strong encouragement for the future.

But they dropped points at Burnley and then staged an incredible fight back against Manchester City to get a 2-2 draw and that game was a game-changer. There was positivity in the stadium and it even felt like Frank was no longer public enemy No1.

Then you get Romero’s comments on social media saying it was “disgraceful” that the club only had 11 fit players to choose from which seemed to be a direct blast at the hierarchy and bad recruitment. Now, almost laughably, they have one less player to choose from because Romero’s madness at Old Trafford saw him being sent off for an X-rated challenge on United midfielder Casemiro.

Romero let his teammates down, he let the club down and you begin to feel this is the recklessness of a player pushing the self destruct button to find a way out at the end of the season. You know you have problems when the club captain wants to jump ship. And the wider issue here is a lack of leadership and leaders.

Romero wanted to quit last summer - and probably the summer before - and yet Spurs gave him a new contract and made him captain. What on earth were they thinking?

The issue is that actually he was the most obvious leader in a squad lacking in leaders. Who else is there? Micky van de Ven? The fans love him. The pacy, dynamic defender who has the speed of recovery to make amends whenever he loses the ball. And who else? And that really speaks to the heart of the issue. Frank lacks strong characters and a dressing room dynamic to pull them away from this mess.

They sacked Ange Postecoglou last summer because, despite winning the Europe League, they flirted with relegation. And here we are again.

Tottenham did do decent business in January and the signing of Brazilian youngster Souza and then £34m on Conor Gallagher is good, long-term planning. A young prospect and a proven England international who does have leadership and strong attributes.

They tried - and failed - to get Antoine Semenyo who unsurprisingly opted for Manchester City. But they are putting building blocks together.

However, this is all about whether the fans have enough patience. The Champions League campaign is the salvation. They are backing Frank and Romero’s madness offers excuses.

But the fans want better football, better results and tangible signs of progress. Another defeat, another toxic night and another fall in the table will put the spotlight back on Frank who is going from one crisis to another.

Madonna was slumming it like the rest of us this weekend as she ordered her second ever Uber taxi to go watch her twin daughters play for Spurs FC

Madonna has revealed she took her "second Uber ever" this weekend as she went to watch her twin daughters play football for the Tottenham Hotspur Women's Academy.

Posting snaps to her Instagram stories, the age-defying Queen of Pop, 67, looked to be in a taxi with boyfriend Akeem Morris, an artist and model who is thought to be 29 years old and originally from Jamaica.

The pair were travelling to the Spurs training ground where her youngest children - adopted 12-year-old twins Stella and Estere - were playing for the women's academy, a special team for 8 to 13-year-olds to develop into future star football players.

But Madge, who has been spending a lot of time in London where she has more than one house, didn't look too impressed with the British weather as she posted a photo of the pitch and captioned it: "I will pay G*D for some sunshine." In another snap she cheered on her girls as any proud mum would, posting: "Go Stella and Estere!"

Madonna is a mum of six, including biological daughter Lourdes Leon, 29, who is a model and singer. Her father is personal trainer and actor Carlos Leon, who Madonna is thought to have dated from 1994 to 1997.

Her other biological child is son Rocco Ritchie, a 25-year-old model, artist and actor. His dad is film director Guy Ritchie - famous for hit gangster films Snatch, Lock Stock and recent Netflix series The Gentlemen - who was married to Madonna for eight years from 2000 to 2008.

The Like A Prayer singer's other children are adopted from Malawi. Like his younger sisters are now, 20-year-old son David Banda was good at football as a child. Madonna even relocated to Lisbon in Portugal - where she now owns a house - to support his career. These days he seems to be a model and is following in his mum's footsteps into music.

Daughter Mercy James, a talented pianist and aspiring photographer and charity worker, turned 20 last month. Paying tribute to her "quietest child", Madonna wrote: "But still waters run deep. And deep, you are. Always thinking, always thoughtful, kind and respectful."

She continued: "I am so proud of the woman you have become. You are talented in so many ways and honestly, you can do anything you put your mind to. I'm excited to see which direction you decide to shine your radiant light."

Twins Stella and Estere were adopted through Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi, that she founded in 2006 to help provide health and education services in the African country. Born in 2012, Madonna adopted her youngest children when they were five years old in February 2017.

She later told PEOPLE magazine: "It's like they were always here. It didn't take long for them to get acclimated. And they've learned, in time, that I'm their mother and nothing is going to change that."

Sharing why she wanted to extend her family, she told the American publication: "It's inexplicable. It's like saying, 'Why do you fall in love with the people you fall in love with?' You look into the eyes of somebody, you feel their soul, you feel touched by them — that's it."

Manchester United cemented their place in the Premier League's top four with a victory over 10-man Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday

Saturday lunchtime brought a fourth win in as many matches for Michael Carrick since he took over as Manchester United interim manager. Opponents Tottenham Hotspur made things difficult for themselves when captain Cristian Romero was sent off in the first half but United still had work to do.

Bryan Mbeumo took advantage, rolling home United's opener a few minutes before half time. It wasn't until the final 10 minutes that the points were made safe thanks to a Bruno Fernandes effort but Carrick won't be complaining too much.

There's now a chance for the Red Devils to make it five league wins on the spin when they take on West Ham on Tuesday. The Hammers took a point at Old Trafford before Christmas but will go into the midweek meeting in the bottom three.

United fans will have had plenty to enjoy over the weekend, with things looking up after they strengthened their hold on a top-four spot. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from around Old Trafford.

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Mainoo becomes undroppable

Before the turn of the year, Kobbie Mainoo could barely get a look in at Manchester United. Ruben Amorim preferred to use Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role alongside Casemiro, meaning the England international had to make do with occasional cameos from the bench.

Things have changed under Michael Carrick, though, with Fernandes pushed forward and Mainoo brought into the starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 set-up. He has barely missed a minute under the interim boss, starting four games out of four and playing another 90 minutes against Spurs before making way for Tyler Fletcher in second-half stoppage time.

He grabbed an assist, rolling the ball across for Mbeumo to beat Guglielmo Vicario and set United on their way. After the game, former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves asked on TNT Sports whether Mainoo might even have time to play his way into England's World Cup squad.

The midfielder feels undroppable right now, with Hargreaves speaking about a "perfect" midfield balance. "Kobbie, for him not to play for a year and come and play like this is amazing. I think [he and Casemiro] complete each other," he said.

Keane proven wrong

When Manchester United brought Jonny Evans into their first-team coaching staff, former captain Roy Keane questioned the decision. The former centre-back was brought in to work with caretaker Darren Fletcher after Ruben Amorim was sacked and has remained in place since Michael Carrick's appointment.

"It's not an issue with Jonny Evans, it's an issue with the club and the decision-making, who they're bringing in," Keane said, pointing to the Northern Irishman's lack of experience in the coaching environment. However, Carrick singled out Evans for the part he played in United's opener on Saturday to leave the one-time skipper with egg on his face.

"Jonny [Evans] had his eye on set plays so it’s great when things come off. Delighted with that," Carrick said during a half-time interview with TNT Sports after United took the lead from a corner.

Manchester United have been among the most dangerous teams from set pieces in the Premier League this season. However, they still have some way to go to catch league leaders Arsenal in that regard.

Cristian Romero's bad week got even worse as he was sent off during Spurs' 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford and only one man is to blame for his moment of madness

“We only had 11 players available - unbelievable but true and disgraceful.” Cristian Romero, after the stirring Spurs comeback against Manchester City last Sunday.

And after less than half an hour in their next game, Tottenham Hotspur, on the pitch, only had 10 players available - unbelievable but true and disgraceful.

That Manchester United’s revival under Michael Carrick continued with a fourth win on the spin was down to their renewed vibrancy, a couple of bits of clever finishing and an incisive, more direct, attacking style.

But it was also down to the stupidity of Romero, to his entirely predictable loss of control. After the Argentinian defender’s social media post laying into the Spurs hierarchy in the week, manager Thomas Frank said the matter would be dealt with internally but that Romero would remain captain.

And he did. Remained Captain Liability, that is. From the moment the 50-50 situation with Casemiro developed, there was only ever going to be one outcome.

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Michael Oliver’s red card was on its way out before Romero’s right boot had crunched into Casemiro’s ankle. A minority could probably argue it was a little harsh but the force left Oliver with little choice but to give Romero his fourth Premier League red card.

Those cards have come against United, City, Chelsea and Liverpool. He loves a big game dismissal, Cristian. That is two reds and nine yellows this season. Some going.

And this particular transgression - which, it has to be said, was not that much worse than Diogo Dalot’s yellow-card offence against Jeremy Doku here - definitely gave United a helping hand they probably did not need.

Lifted by their man-advantage, a clever corner-kick routine - finished by Bryan Mbeumo - put them ahead and they never looked in any trouble from that point.

What's gone wrong for Spurs this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below

This was, by no means, a scintillating performance but there is a positivity about Old Trafford that makes the long-term appointment of Carrick seem increasingly like an obvious decision.

The resurgence under him should be no surprise. This is a good United squad, expensively assembled and in rude health. The workload is very easily manageable and the overall standard of this season’s Premier League is of dubious quality.

This was United’s 27th game of the season, ten fewer than Spurs have had to play. The decisiveness of that factor cannot be underestimated. More games does not just mean more fatigue, it means more injuries.

United only have 13 matches to tackle in the remaining 15 weeks of the season. With the resources at his disposal, Carrick could rotate selection if he wished but there is no need. If this eleven stays fit, he could play it for the rest of the season.

He might make a few changes for Tuesday’s trip to West Ham but this set-up has a winning way about it and should have made the scoreline more convincing against the Tottenham ten.

Unlike during their recent away trip to Burnley, the travelling Spurs support did not turn on Frank, presumably because Spurs were playing well before Romero decided to earn himself a four-game suspension.

As reckless as he can be, the centre-half will still be missed and personnel issues continue to undermine Frank. There are no such issues for Carrick, who has not only found a system that suits his players but is also getting the best out of individuals.

The agreement for Casemiro and the club to part ways at the end of the season is looking more hasty with every game the Brazilian plays under Carrick.

The midfield combination of Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes is purring. There are still suggestions Fernandes might also leave in the summer but, from United’s point of view, it would be madness to let him leave.

For another outstanding contribution, he deserved his goal late in proceedings. And if Romero was still watching, this is what a captain’s performance looks like.

Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick was full of praise after Bryan Mbeumo's goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon - with one man in particular singled out

Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick has praised coach Jonny Evans for Bryan Mbeumo's goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The strike came shortly after Spurs defender Cristian Romero was shown a red card in the 29th minute for a reckless tackle on Casemiro.

United responded quickly with a goal from Mbeumo, following a well-executed corner routine by Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. It took some time for the Red Devils to wrap up the three points, but they did just that after a fine finish from Fernandes in the 81st minute secured a fourth-straight victory under their temporary head coach.

And speaking pitch-side before the second half, Carrick acknowledged United coach and ex-Reds defender Evans for his contributions during training.

He said: "Jonny [Evans] had his eye on set plays so it's great when things come off. Delighted with that."

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Carrick's remarks followed criticism of Evans from Roy Keane. The Irishman criticised United's decision to bring Evans onto the club's first-team coaching staff.

While recognising the Northern Irishman as a competent player, Keane described the appointment as "jobs for the boys" and indicative of poor decision-making at Old Trafford.

Speaking on Sky Sports in January ahead of the 2-0 victory in the Manchester Derby, he said: "Jonny Evans rocks up, they've signed him twice.

"It's not an issue with Jonny Evans, it's an issue with the club and the decision-making, who they're bringing in. Jonny Evans left Man United four or five weeks ago. He left as a summer player and started as a loans manager. He wasn't there 10 years doing it. A few months.

"My issue with Jonny is he's got no coaching. It's not as if he worked in the academy for a few years. He comes in with Darren Fletcher and he has very little experience but he's worked at academy level. Jonny gets a phone call saying: 'Do you want to come back?'

"And I bet Jonny's thinking, 'As a kit manager or working with the Under-12s?' No, no, you're working with the first team with Darren. 'Okay, great opportunity.'

"You have two games, doesn't go too well. That's probably the end of that. No, no. Another manager comes in, he wants you to stay on as well."

Man Utd finally end Tottenham hoodoo thanks to reckless Cristian Romero - 5 talking points

MAN UTD 2-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Goals in either half from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes helped fire the Red Devils to a fourth consecutive win in the Premier League

Michael Carrick further enhanced his prospects of becoming Manchester United's full-time head coach by overseeing a fourth straight victory at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs were left up against it when Cristian Romero was sent off for a moment of stupidity. And the Londoners' misery was compounded when a smart set-piece routine enabled Bryan Mbeumo to break the deadlock with a measured side-foot finish beyond Guglielmo Vicario seven minutes before half-time.

With a man advantage, United pushed for a second but were unable to find it until Bruno Fernandes popped up in the 81st minute to kill the game off.

Here, Mirror Football looks at the big talking points from Saturday's game at Old Trafford...

Tottenham hadn't lost in their previous eight meetings with Manchester United. But that stat was always on borrowed time from the second Romero was sent off by Michael Oliver.

United got the goal their pressure deserved when Mbeumo found the net from inside a crowded penalty area after a neat piece of play. And while it took them until the final 10 minutes to fully kill Spurs off, the result never really felt in doubt.

It's been a while since United beat Tottenham in any competition, let alone the Premier League. For Carrick, a former Spurs midfielder, this will have been extra sweet.

They say actions speak louder than words. And Romero's latest red card (he's now up to six, if you're counting) has completely outdone his latest verbal volley at the Spurs hierarchy in midweek.

It was a stupid follow through on Casemiro's ankle that led to Tottenham's captain being given his marching orders. To the surprise of precisely nobody, Romero let his club and team-mates down yet again in a big match - and the smart money would be on him doing it again and again.

That's because Romero is more liability than leader. He'll now miss Tottenham's next four matches and won't play again till mid-March if selected for Liverpool. And surely nobody would begrudge Thomas Frank if he decides against recalling him.

A moment of genius involving Fernandes, Mainoo and Kobbie Mainoo from a corner was enough to take the game away from Tottenham in the dying embers of the first half.

Spurs were completely taken by surprise as Fernandes tucked a low ball into Mainoo at the near post. He then posted the ball onto Mbuemo who kept his cool to steer a precise low shot away from the despairing Vicario and into the bottom corner.

It's almost felt like a bit of a throwback at times in the Premier League this season with set-pieces becoming so important. The good news for United in their bid to finish in the top-four is that this smart routine was no one-off; only Arsenal boast a better tally when it comes to non-penalty goals from set-pieces this season than Manchester United now.

Maligned by the previous regime, Mainoo needs no introduction; everybody knows how talented he is. And yet every time you see United with Carrick at the helm, the reluctance of Amorim to find a spot for him in his team grows more and more bewildering.

He was effortlessly cool and classy here as United cantered to another big win with only Fernandes (4) completing more big passes than the England star's three. Not for the first time, they were the standout players for United with Fernandes' strike bringing up his 200th goal involvement in a red shirt.

In four Premier League games under Carrick, Mainoo has clocked up more minutes than he did during all Amorim's matches. The most exciting thing for United and Mainoo is that there should be plenty more to come.

Carrick showed his class on the eve of the game when he insisted there could be no 'knee-jerk' decisions over the Manchester United head coach job despite his fine start to life in the hotseat. Even though he would be the chief beneficiary if United's top brass did decide to pull the trigger after a significant upturn in form.

The thing is, soon we'll be well beyond knee-jerk territory. In winning four straight Premier League games, Carrick has achieved something that his predecessor, Ruben Amorim, never did. So how many wins before Carrick is seen as the sensible option?

The next few weeks will be intriguing because if United keep winning, then it will be difficult to ignore Carrick. They are now just two points off Aston Villa in third position and motoring.

United spent over a year trying to find a winning formula under Amorim, who was given every chance to make a success of his premiership. Now they've finally found one under Carrick, do they dare twist?

Darts world champion and teenage superstar Luke Littler drew the ire of Tottenham supporters during their clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday

Luke Littler was afforded the opportunity to parade his World Championship trophy on the pitch at Old Trafford, but probably didn't expect to hear Michael van Gerwen's name when he did so.

The teenage superstar showed off his trophy at half-time of Manchester United's clash against Tottenham in the Premier League. Littler's celebration, not shown on TNT Sports, was interrupted by Spurs supporters seeking something to cheer about after their side was 1-0 down.

'Oh Michael Van Gerwen' sounded the chant from the stands, with Littler quick to respond by pointing to the trophy and holding two fingers aloft.

The dominant darts star is no stranger to being targeted by fans following his success. At the opening night of Premier League darts action, Littler was subject to some jeers.

Littler took barely 10 minutes after being beaten 6-4 by Gian van Veen to aim a cheeky dig at Newcastle fans. On that occasion, he hit back with a post shared to Instagram stories.

Littler appeared to reference Newcastle's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the second leg of their Carabao Cup clash the previous night. The Magpies crashed out of the competition as a result.

Posting a photo of him watching the tournament on a projector screen, he wrote: "Newcastle, you were brilliant, On to next week. PS 3-1."

The two-time world champion, a United fan, suffered some hostile reactions in his Ally Pally campaign. The reaction initially seemed to rattle the youngster but did not impact his darts.

"I'm not bothered [by the booing]," he said after once incident. "Really not bothered. You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize so thanks for booing me. No-one wanted me to win but I proved them wrong yet again."

"They want the underdogs to win, they want the favourites to go out," Littler added after beating Rob Cross.

"I just had to get it out of the way and get my job done. I think that's the first time I've been at the World Championship and the crowd haven't wanted me to win. I expect the worst on New Year's Day."

While Littler appeared to enjoy the attention at the Theatre of Dreams, he'll have enjoyed the result more. Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes ensured a win for the home side as Cristian Romero was sent off.