Stephen Bunting is set to step onto the stage in front of his home crowd in Liverpool on Thursday night, and he can anticipate a wave of affection from the local supporters. The atmosphere, however, is likely to be less welcoming for his fellow competitor, back-to-back world champion Luke Littler, who has recently endured a series of boos following a public dispute with Dutch player Gian van Veen in Manchester. Even without the van Veen incident, Littler may already be on the receiving end of hostility from Merseyside fans, especially after a Manchester United supporter publicly highlighted Liverpool’s difficult season on social media.
Bunting acknowledges that a player’s control over crowd reaction is limited. "It’s not my place to dictate how the audience behaves," he said when asked about the boos aimed at Littler. "I’m in a position where the crowd generally reacts positively toward me, and I try to do everything I can to earn that goodwill on the oche.
There was one moment after the World Championship where I may have said something I shouldn’t have, and I got a bit of criticism for it – perhaps a little harsh. Fans will react however they wish, and we can’t really change that. A lot of people sit behind keyboards and write whatever they want, but that’s out of our hands. If someone in the venue chooses to boo, that’s entirely their decision." He added that his own strategy is to stay clean, focus on his own game, and avoid getting tangled in other players’ controversies.
"As long as I keep my conduct spotless, stay true to my own path, and don’t stir up trouble, hopefully there won’t be any reason for anyone to boo me," Bunting explained. Bunting thrives on crowd energy and looks forward to a particularly special moment when he meets Premier League leader Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals. "Playing in front of my home fans is always emotional.
I’ll have that extra surge of adrenaline, maybe a few more seconds on my walk‑on, a deep breath and then I’ll try not to get too carried away," he said. "I’ve already had an emotional day – I visited Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – so I’m prepared for the feelings.
If I win, I might even shed a tear, but first I have to focus on the match." He reflected on his own experiences of both welcoming and hostile receptions across the darts circuit. "Last year I faced Michael van Gerwen in Rotterdam. The crowd was against me, but I managed to pull through and win," Bunting recalled.
"A few weeks ago I played Gerwyn Price in Wales, and the Welsh fans were fully behind him – that’s the norm, you get pockets of support wherever you go. Liverpool will be great for me; I hope the atmosphere helps my opponent, but I don’t count on that.
I expect the crowd to be respectful no matter who’s playing. If we all deliver our best darts, it could become one of the most memorable Premier League nights, and the people of Liverpool will talk about it for a long time." In the same Liverpool evening, Littler – currently second in the standings behind Clayton – will open his night against former world champion Luke Humphries, while Gian van Veen meets Price and van Gerwen faces Josh Rock. Bunting sits seventh in the league, five points behind fourth‑placed van Gerwen, who currently holds the final Play‑Off slot. The Premier League campaign has mirrored the ups and downs of Liverpool’s football season, where the club is fighting for a Champions League place amid criticism of manager Arne Slot’s tenure.
"The season has been a roller‑coaster, hasn’t it? All the new signings haven’t quite gelled yet, and injuries have taken a toll," Bunting said. "I was a big fan of Arne Slot last year when we won the league, but my opinion has shifted a bit this season.
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 in the same group, and while we’re not thrilled with the current situation, if Slot stays we’ll back him fully. Let’s see how it unfolds." Darts promoter Barry Hearn has warned players that they must become accustomed to occasional booing, noting that security cannot remove thousands of spectators quickly.
Recent incidents have seen fans whistling and booing in high‑profile matches – Littler was booed in Rotterdam during a final and may face another hostile reception in Liverpool. Referee Huw Ware has had to intervene twice on the Euro Tour in Germany after persistent whistling disrupted play.
Hearn told SunSport that while players have no choice but to adapt, he dislikes the behavior: "We have to rely on common sense, and sometimes that’s missing. Eventually people realise it’s counter‑productive to the evening, but until then the players, who are professionals, must get used to it. I don’t like it. Telling anyone in authority not to do something is like waving a red flag to a bull – they’ll do it even more.
You can’t eject 12,000 fans from Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam; it takes too long to let them back in. You just have to hope common sense prevails, even if it’s slow. It’s annoying, and the only answer I have is for people to look in the mirror and ask if they’ve been a total numpty." Former darts star Wayne Mardle offered advice to Littler after his recent crowd‑related challenges, insisting that the situation "has to stop." "I believe it must stop now, whatever’s happening," Mardle said. "The team around him and he himself have a responsibility.
He’s 19 now, not a child, and he needs to learn how to handle these situations. He should listen to friends, family, and management, and they need to get it right too.
If anyone says, ‘ignore the boos,’ that’s not the solution." Mardle added that no player enjoys being disliked. He referenced past examples: "Peter Manley, Paul Nicholson, and Gerwyn Price all tried to ignore the crowd and it didn’t work.
They eventually had to win the crowd over. Luke Littler never set out to antagonise anyone, but he’s had a few incidents. He’d like it to stop, and we don’t want negative emotions affecting a player’s performance. We don’t want to see anyone look as down as Gerwyn Price did a couple of years ago – that was tough to watch, and I’m glad he pulled himself out of that slump.
Generally, questioning the crowd never works." The Premier League Darts season continues to captivate fans each Thursday until May, with Luke Humphries defending his title. Viewers can stream the action on Sky Sports or via NOW, and can also tune into the "Love the Darts" podcast for additional insights. The upcoming Liverpool showdown promises a blend of home‑crowd support for Bunting, potential hostility for Littler, and high‑stakes darts that could shape the league’s final standings.