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 Ben Banogu Youth Jersey . Dillon Brooks scored 26 points on 9-17 shooting for Canada while pulling down six rebounds and picking up six steals. Teammate Chris Egi had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Quenton Nelson Colts Jersey . Masahiro Tanaka has touched down in the United States and the courting of the Rakuten Golden Eagles stud pitcher has begun in earnest by a bevy of MLB teams interested in the Japanese ace. http://www.officialindianapoliscoltspro....sey/.Hoffenheim forward Anthony Modeste opened the scoring on a counterattack in the 15th minute, shooting though Jaroslav Drobnys legs after Lewis Holtby lost the ball in midfield. Peyton Manning Colts Jersey . 42 sitting next to the bench. The 57-year-old with greying hair couldnt box out or grab a rebound, but owner Ted Leonsis waved his red towel and egged on a cheering crowd that chanted "Free Nene!" The Wizards did just fine without the suspended Brazilian forward. Ben Banogu Jersey . Stevenson scored the first three goals of the game in the first period for Regina (35-22-6), which has won eight of its last 10 games. Patrick DAmico added two for the Pats, Braden Christoffer had a single and Morgan Klimchuk chipped in a goal and four assists.SUZUKA, Japan - Marussia Formula One driver Jules Bianchi is in critical condition after crashing at the Japanese Grand Prix.Bianchi was unconscious when he was taken to a nearby hospital following a crash during Sundays rain-shortened race and is undergoing emergency surgery after a scan revealed a severe head injury.According to FIA officials, the 25-year-old Bianchi will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored after the surgery.The race was red-flagged with nine laps to go after Bianchi went off at Turn 7, where Saubers Adrian Sutil had crashed earlier.The Sauber was being recovered by a crane when Bianchi went off.Sutil indicated the Frenchmans car had hit the crane.I aquaplaned, Sutil said. The rain got more and more. One lap later with waved yellow flags, Jules came around and had the same spin there and that was it. It was the same crash but the outcome was different. The car came out to rescue my car and it all happened.Sundays race started at 3 p.m. local time. An approaching typhoon led to suggestions that the race would be pushed up to an earlier start.At the time of tthe crash, rain was falling steadily and it was getting dark.dddddddddddd Several drivers complained of not being able to see properly.The first nine laps were run behind a safety car and it started to rain heavily again near the end of the race.FIA issued a statement on the crash.On lap 42, Adrian Sutil lost control of his car, spun and hit the tire barrier on the outside of Turn 7. The marshals displayed double waved yellow flags before the corner to warn the drivers of the incident. A recovery vehicle was dispatched in order to lift the car and take it to a place of safety behind the guardrail. While this was being done, the driver of car 17, Jules Bianchi, lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.The FIA went on to say once the marshals reported that the driver was injured, medical teams were dispatched and the safety car was deployed. These were followed by an extrication team and ambulance.Bianchi was then removed from the car, taken to the circuit medical centre before being transferred by ambulance to a nearby hospital. ' ' '