World champion Littler silenced the Newcastle fans who gave him a rough reception a year ago when he won the night on Tyneside.
But the story was very different for the teenager this time around, who was dumped out at the first time of asking by Gian van Veen, the Dutchman who was beaten by Littler in the World Championship final last month.
It was a Dutchman who was victorious on Thursday night at Newcastle but not van Veen. Instead it was Michael van Gerwen, something of a forgotten man despite the fact he holds the record for the number of Premier League victories with seven.
By the time van Gerwen was putting the finishing touches to his 6-4 final victory over van Veen, Littler was back in his hotel room, where he took to Instagram and couldn't resist a dig at Newcastle fans.
Littler is a big Manchester United fan and has enjoyed winding up Newcastle fans in the past.
And after his exit at the Utilita Arena on Thursday night, he took aim at Newcastle after their Carabao Cup exit at Manchester City 24 hours earlier.
“Newcastle u was brilliant, onto next week…ps 3-1," he posted on Instagram.
Littler will soon climb up the Premier League standings but van Gerwen is enjoying having his rivals chasing, even if the marathon campaign is only a week old.
Considering Littler is the headline act, Luke Humphries is the world number two and van Veen has now climbed above van Gerwen to become the Dutch number one, how the three time world champion must have enjoyed reminding his rivals what he's all about.
It was something of a statement win from van Gerwen - not that he'd see it like that.
"I hate the word statement," he said, after seeing off Stephen Bunting, Humphries and van Veen to win the night.
"I'm retired from making statements. I don't have to make statements. People know what I'm capable of.
"Everyone still wants to beat me. It's still going to be a long journey. As long as I keep enjoying it, everything is possible.
"I know I have a good mindset. It's always nice to be in front rather than chasing them. It's still going to be a long 15 or 16 weeks.
"But if I have the feeling that I can't do it anymore then something is wrong. I always give 100% and want to win."
Josh Rock's Premier League debut ended in an opening night defeat to Jonny Clayton, who lost to van Veen after his Littler success.
Humphries survived two match darts from Gerwyn Price in a high quality affair before getting knocked out by van Gerwen, who went on to finish job against his Dutch counterpart.