Robert Thornton says victory against Michael Smith in the Premier League this week will give him a great chance to avoid elimination. The Scot has been left bottom of the table for each of the last three weeks as he continues to battle against a first ever elimination from the competition.However he has an ideal chance to get himself in a position to survive when he plays twice in Liverpool on Thursday night. Smith provides the first opposition of the night while the formidable figure of Michael van Gerwen looms large for his second game.With Smith just points ahead of him the Thorn knows he can set up a monumental scrap for survival in Cardiff on Thursday week.Ive got one point and he [Michael Smith] has got three so if I beat him there is a chance there will be three players on three points, Thornton told Sky Sports.it is a do or die match in some ways and I am looking forward to it. Then it couldnt get much harder than Michael so its not worked out great for me. Mardles PL predictions Wayne Mardle with his picks for night eight I will give both games my all and hopefully get a point or two from them.If I get two points against Michael [Smith], I can just go up and enjoy my darts against Michael van Gerwen - we all know he is beatable.Thornton, a two-time major winner, has been playing catch-up since missing night two in Newcastle through illness and he says it is never ideal to miss a week and leave yourself on the back foot. Thornton was a major winner in 2015, claiming the World Grand Prix in Dublin (Pic: Lawrence Lustig) You never what to miss anything, you want to play every week, he added.Missing week two through a bit of illness knocked me back a bit but hopefully I started to show some signs of form last week and it will click on Thursday night.My form is coming back and I can practice a bit more now, so it shouldnt take too long to get top form back.There will be no sitting back and taking it easy, I will have to go up there and go hell for leather from the very beginning.You can watch all the action from Liverpool on Thursday night live on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm. Premier League night eight We preview the action in Liverpool Also See: Sky Live: Premier League night eight Mardles PL predictions Dream Premier League night Lessons from the champ Yeezy Boost China Wholesale . 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The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night.The announcement that Mauricio Pochettino has verbally agreed a new five-year contract with Tottenham will add to the belief that there are exciting times ahead at White Hart Lane, writes Adam Bate. Deal agreed Mauricio Pochettino has verbally agreed a new five-year contract Its been quite a ride for Tottenham supporters this season and its been a source of pride too. Pride in the emergence of Dele Alli as the most exciting young player in the Premier League and pride in the thought that striker Harry Kane is one of their own as well.However, theres also a sense that Spurs fans are fully aware of what the recent buzz has been built on. Its a 44-year-old Argentine from the small agricultural town of Murphy who is the law at the Lane. So talk of a new five-year deal for Mauricio Pochettino is huge news. Mauricio Pochettino explains why hes extending his contract at Tottenham Of course, Pochettinos contract already commits him to the club until 2019. But with the man himself having set hares running by mentioning long-term ambitions to return to Paris Saint-Germain, and reports of admirers in Manchester Uniteds boardroom, the fear was there.Such is the nature of success. And is it any wonder he has his supporters? Pochettinos Tottenham are impossible to ignore. Leicester might be the fairy-tale but perhaps Spurs are a weightier tome - the one their rivals will really have to wrestle with over the rest of the decade. Pochettino claims his PSG comments were blown out of proportion They have the best young talent - with an average age of under 25 - and a style of play that excites. While Leicesters success is built on a system that others will not replicate, Tottenhams trick is that others cannot replicate it.Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores described Tottenham as like animals in their tenacity and Stoke manager Mark Hughes said they were quicker to everything on the recent trip to the Britannia Stadium. Its hungger thats not been seen at White Hart Lane in many years.dddddddddddd. Pochettino has changed Tottenhams style of play The intensity of the training is well documented. Danny Rose has called it an enjoyable kind of suffering but once on the pitch its the opposition in pain. The distance covered stats certainly illustrate the physical effort that goes into their work.No team in the Premier League had made as many sprints this season, while Spurs have also outrun their opponents in 30 of their 35 matches. In total, theyve run more than 163 kilometres further than the opposition. Its useful for any team but when fused with such quality its deadly. Tottenham stats under Pochettino so far this season in the Premier League By most metrics, Tottenham have the best defence in the league having conceded the fewest goals and shots on target. At the other end, theyve created the most chances, had the most shots and are one shy of having scored the most goals. Its a team in harmony.Just four points are required from the final three games for Tottenhams best ever Premier League points tally. The only disappointment is that its unlikely to be enough to deliver the title too. And yet, Leicesters year might yet morph into Tottenhams time. What hes created here is something very special. Everything is there for Tottenham. Jamie Carragher The more I watch them, the more I think this chance might come again, Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. I was expecting Spurs to go back to being challenging for top four, but I think in terms of years to come, this is going to be a side thats challenging for the title.Such is life as a Spurs supporter that thoughts will inevitably turn to what might derail these hopes. Theres an obvious answer. For while players come and go, creating a culture of success is trickier. We have a winning mentality, said Pochettino recently. It needs to stay. He needs to stay. Sometimes when you pick a man of the match for Spurs, it could be five or six of them because its all about the team, added Carragher. The man who should get most credit is the manager, because what hes created here is something very special. Everything is there for Tottenham.Everything is there and now it seems the thing that matters most is there to stay too. Pochettino and the culture hes brought has made a commitment to the club, lifting spirits after the disappointing draw with West Brom. Today is a good moment to communicate that we have a verbal agreement, he said on Friday. Tottenham have unbelievable potential. Mauricio Pochettino Its for many reasons. Tottenham have unbelievable potential. I think after two years here weve created a great group here. We have young players with the potential to get to the top. The staff and supporters are unbelievable. I think theres massive potential. Why not stay here?Why not, indeed. For Pochettinos decision sends a message. If one of the most highly-rated young managers around believes in this project then theres every reason that his highly rated young players should do too. One title race might look lost but, under Pochettino, Tottenhams race is far from run. Also See: Pochettino agrees new deal Pochettino: Alli wont change ' ' '