Eric Bristow has accused Phil Taylor of being 'brain-dead' and claimed the darts legend can't count.

Bristow, who invested £10,000 in 'The Power' 30 years ago to help launch his storied darts career, said Taylor has masked his poor numeracy skills over the years.

The Crafty Cockney said that other players were now catching up to the 16-time world champion, exposing his weaknesses.

Eric Bristow has called Phil Taylor (pictured during the Auckland Masters this year) brain-dead

Bristow lent 'The Power' £10,000 30 years ago to help launch Taylor's sensational career

Bristow said that Taylor 'has always had a weakness with his counting' but makes up for it with skill

'Phil has always had a weakness with his counting because he's brain-dead,' Bristow told 888sport.com. 'He keeps leaving 162 or 163, which didn't matter five or 10 years ago because he was so much better than all the others – he would just leave a double and get it before they could catch him.

'But he's always done that. He's never been the best counter in the world.

'Now some of the young hounds will put him under pressure by leaving 161 or even 170 and he can't handle it.'

Taylor launches his bid for a 17th world title at Alexandra Palace on Saturday night, but Bristow has warned things won't be as easy as they used to be for The Power.

The 58-year-old also said that if Taylor doesn't win this time around people will start to question him.

'I don't think he is over the hill or washed-up by any means. You write off Phil Taylor at your peril,' Bristow said.

The Crafty Cockney said he only sees The Power at tournaments but that there is 'no animosity' between them

'But he hasn't won anything for 18 months now and it's the first time in 20-odd years that he hasn't had a trophy in his cabinet.

'If he doesn't win the world championship again this year, people have got to start thinking about that.

'He hasn't played bad all year - he's hit good averages, but other people's averages are improving and they are catching him up.'

Despite the attack on his former protege, Bristow insists there is no hard feeling between the two.

'We just say hello and that's it. There's no animosity between us. He's got his own friends and I've got mine.

'I only see him at tournaments and you don't get much of a chance to talk because when the players come in, they've got a job to do.'

Taylor will be bidding for his 17th world title when he starts his campaign at Alexander Palace on Saturday