Stephen Bunting is set to step onto the Ahoy arena stage in front of a home crowd that will likely shower him with cheers on Thursday night. The atmosphere for him should be markedly different from that awaiting another competitor, back-to-back world champion Luke Littler, who has recently endured a series of boos after a public dispute with fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen in Manchester. Even aside from his clash with van Veen, Littler may already have a target on his back in Merseyside. The Manchester United supporter has not hesitated to highlight Liverpool's difficulties this season across his social media platforms, a move that could have further inflamed local sentiment against him.
Bunting, however, is realistic about the limits of a player’s influence over audience reaction. "It isn’t my place to dictate how fans behave," he explained when asked about the recent booing.
"When the crowd is supportive, I focus on delivering the best darts I can. There was one moment after the World Championship when I used a word that perhaps crossed the line, and I took a bit of flak for it – maybe a little harsh. Fans will react as they wish, and there’s not much we can do to change that." He added that much of the criticism comes from people behind keyboards, far removed from the venue, and that the boos heard in the arena are entirely the responsibility of those present.
"As long as I stay clean, stick to my game and avoid stirring up trouble, I hope there’s no reason for anyone to boo me," Bunting said. The Englishman is also feeding off the energy of the crowd, especially as he prepares for a high‑stakes quarter‑final against Premier League leader Jonny Clayton. "Playing in front of my own fans is always emotional," he admitted.
"I’ll take a few extra seconds on my walk‑on, breathe deep, and try not to let the feeling get to me. If I win, I might even shed a tear – but first I have to focus on the match." Bunting has experienced both sides of a hometown reception.
He recalls Gerwyn Price’s enthusiastic welcome in Wales and Michael van Gerwen’s raucous reception in the Netherlands. "Last year I faced Van Gerwen in Rotterdam and managed to pull off a win despite the hostile atmosphere," he said.
"When I played Price a few weeks ago, the Welsh crowd was behind him, which is expected. You always find pockets of support wherever you go." Looking ahead to Liverpool, Bunting expects the local crowd to be respectful regardless of who is on stage. "I hope the atmosphere helps me, but I don’t count on it. I just want everyone to play their best darts and make it one of the most memorable Premier League nights.
Then the people of Liverpool can talk about it for weeks." The night’s programme also features Littler, who sits second in the standings behind Clayton, opening his evening against former world champion Luke Humphries. Meanwhile, van Veen will meet Price, and Van Gerwen will face Josh Rock.
Bunting currently sits seventh, five points shy of fourth‑placed Van Gerwen, who occupies the final play‑off slot. The Premier League campaign has mirrored the fortunes of Bunting’s beloved Liverpool football club, both fighting to secure a coveted Champions League place amid criticism of manager Arne Slot’s tenure. "The season has been a roller‑coaster," Bunting observed.
"New signings haven’t clicked, injuries have piled up, and my admiration for Slot has waned a bit this year. It’s a bit dull to watch at times. I’m friends with several boxers and with Paddy the Baddy, and we often discuss football.
We’re all hoping the manager sticks around, but we’ll see what happens." Darts promoter Barry Hearn has reminded players that they must learn to cope with booing, as security cannot remove tens of thousands of spectators. Recent incidents have seen fans whistle loudly, disrupting matches on the Euro Tour in Germany and even in Rotterdam when Littler was booed en route to the final. Referee Huw Ware has had to intervene on multiple occasions to restore order. Hearn acknowledged the difficulty for players but emphasized that professionalism requires adaptation.
"We rely on common sense, which isn’t always present," he told SunSport. "Eventually fans realise that booing hurts the event, but until then the players have to endure it. You can’t throw out 12,000 people from a stadium and expect them to come back quickly. The only answer is for everyone to reflect on their behaviour." Veteran Wayne Mardle has also weighed in, urging Littler’s support team to intervene.
"He’s 19 now, not a child. The crowd’s reaction has to stop, and his entourage must help him handle it," Mardle said. He warned that ignoring the issue would only exacerbate the problem, citing past examples of players like Peter Manley, Paul Nicholson and Gerwyn Price, who struggled with negative crowd sentiment before eventually adjusting their approach.
Mardle stressed that no player wants to be disliked and that a hostile environment can damage performance. "We don’t want to see anyone look as down as Price did a couple of years ago. It’s better to engage positively with the audience than to fight them," he added.
As the Premier League darts season heads toward its climax, fans can follow the action every Thursday until May on Sky Sports, with live streaming available via NOW. The drama continues to unfold, and the question remains: who will lift the title this year? Luke Humphries, the defending champion, will be looking to retain his crown, while the rest of the field, including Bunting, Littler, and the league leaders, will be fighting for their own slice of glory.