Stephen Bunting knows he will be greeted with enthusiasm when he steps onto the stage in front of his home crowd in Liverpool on Thursday night. The atmosphere for his opponent, however, may be far less friendly.
Two‑time world champion Luke Littler has endured a series of boos in recent weeks, a backlash that began after a public spat with Dutchman Gian van Veen in Manchester. Even without that incident, the Merseyside audience might already have been primed to show displeasure toward the Manchester United supporter, who has not hesitated to highlight Liverpool’s difficulties this season on his social media platforms. Bunting, for his part, acknowledges that there is little he can do to dictate how spectators react. "It’s not my place to comment, honestly," Bunting said when asked about the boos he has heard.
"When the crowd is supportive I try to keep my focus on the oche and perform as best I can. There was one moment after the World Championship where I said something I probably shouldn’t have, and I got a bit of flak for it – perhaps a little harsh. Fans will react the way they want to, and that’s out of our control." He continued, "A lot of people sit behind keyboards and write all sorts of things – that’s beyond our influence. If someone in the venue decides to boo, that’s entirely their decision.
The only thing I can control is staying clean, staying true to my game, and not giving anyone a reason to turn against me." Bunting thrives on crowd energy, and he is especially excited about a potential showdown with Premier League leader Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals. "Playing in front of your own fans is always emotional," he admitted. "I’ll probably take a few extra seconds on my walk‑on, take a deep breath and try not to get too carried away.
I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve already had an emotional day – I visited Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – so if I win I might shed a tear, but first I need to focus on the match." He also reflected on the opposite side of the experience – being the visitor in other players’ hometowns.
"Last year I faced Michael van Gerwen in Rotterdam. The crowd was massive, but I managed to stay composed and take the win.
A few weeks ago I played Gerwyn Price in Wales, and the Welsh crowd were behind him the whole time. You learn to expect pockets of support wherever you go.
Liverpool will be great for me, and I hope the atmosphere helps me, but I don’t count on it. I expect the crowd to be respectful regardless of who is on stage." Later in the evening, other matches will unfold in Liverpool: Littler – who sits second in the table behind Clayton – opens his night against former world champion Luke Humphries, while Gian van Veen meets Price and van Gerwen faces Josh Rock. Bunting currently sits seventh in the league, five points off fourth‑placed van Gerwen, who holds the final Play‑Off spot.
The ups and downs of the Premier League darts season have, in many ways, mirrored the fortunes of Bunting’s beloved football club. Liverpool are fighting to secure a Champions League berth, and the campaign has drawn criticism of manager Arne Slot’s title‑winning side. "The season has been a rollercoaster, hasn’t it?" Bunting said. "All the new signings haven’t really gelled yet.
Injuries have taken a toll. I was a huge Arne Slot fan last year when we won the league, but my view has shifted a bit this season. It’s a bit dull to watch at the moment. I’m friends with a number of the boxers and with Paddy the Baddy, and we often chat about football.
We’re all in the same group, and while we’re not thrilled, if Slot stays we’ll back him fully. Time will tell." Darts chief Barry Hearn has reminded players that they must learn to live with occasional booing, as security cannot simply escort thousands of fans out of a venue.
Recent weeks have seen several high‑profile incidents of crowd whistling. Littler was jeered in Rotterdam when he reached the final and is likely to encounter a similar reception in Liverpool on Thursday. Referee Huw Ware had to intervene twice on the Euro Tour in Germany after persistent whistling disrupted play. Hearn told SunSport, "We have to rely on common sense, and sometimes that’s missing.
Eventually people realise that booing harms the evening, but until then the players have to adapt. I don’t like it, but they’re professionals and will get used to it. You can’t clear 12,000 people from Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam – it would take forever to get them back in. So we have to depend on a bit of common sense, even if it arrives slowly." Former champion Wayne Mardle has offered advice to the young Littler, urging him and his team to address the crowd hostility head‑on.
"I believe it has to stop," Mardle said. "Littler is now 19, he’s no longer a child. He needs guidance from his friends, family and management to handle the situation. Telling him to ignore the boos isn’t the solution." Mardle added, "No one enjoys being disliked.
Peter Manley, Paul Nicholson and Gerwyn Price all tried to fight the crowd and it didn’t work. They eventually changed tack and became crowd‑pleasers. Littler never set out to antagonise anyone, but a few incidents have caused tension.
We don’t want negative emotions affecting a player’s performance. Seeing Price look down a couple of years ago was tough, and I’m glad he recovered. Questioning the crowd rarely helps." As the Premier League darts season progresses, fans can continue to follow the drama each Thursday until May on Sky Sports, or stream the action via NOW. The question remains: who will lift the title this year?
Luke Humphries will defend his crown, but with the likes of Bunting, Littler, Clayton and van Gerwen all in contention, the competition promises more excitement, emotion and, inevitably, a few more boos along the way.