BUNTING EYES PLAYOFF SURGE IN LIVERPOOL

By Aaron Nijjar

STEPHEN BUNTING is aiming for a special night on home soil in Liverpool as he looks to reignite his Premier League Play-Off push. 

St Helens thrower Bunting ended an eight-match losing streak in the tournament at Berlin on Night Nine with his first nightly victory. 

Former Masters Champion Bunting may sit bottom of the table but he’s only four points behind Chris Dobey who is in sixth.  

‘The Bullet’ reached the final in Rotterdam on Night 11 and delivered a standout 6-5 semi-final win over Luke Littler with a 106 average. 

World No. 4 Bunting now faces Rob Cross on Night 12 at the M&S Arena in a crucial bottom of the table clash with both players aiming to keep their hopes alive of making the top four.

Bunting is relishing the chance to play in front of a home crowd. 

He said on talkSPORT: “I’ll have all the fans on my side and hopefully Rob Cross will be shaking in his boots.

“10 years ago I was playing in Liverpool at the Premier League against the magician Phil Taylor and the occasion of playing him in my hometown got to me.   

“Obviously dreaming about that win, it was all a bit too much.   

“But now I am a lot more experienced and used to playing in the big arenas.   

“I’m really looking forward to playing in my home city and hopefully winning the night.” 

The 40-year-old claimed his first European Tour title earlier this month at the International Open.  

Bunting has recorded the SIXTH most 100+ averages on tour this year, hitting 26 in 64 matches – a clear sign of the superb form he’s carried throughout the season. 

He also won his first World Series title at the Bahrain Masters in January.  

Two-time Players Championship winner Bunting now hopes to finish his Premier League campaign off with a few more wins under his belt.  

He added: “I’ve won in Berlin and lost in the final at Rotterdam so I have been in brilliant form.   

“I’ve took all the pressure off myself.   

“It would have been nice if Chris Dobey did not win last week because then I would have been on level points with him.   

“The form has been really good. I’ve already won a European and a World Series.   

“I decided not to go to Munich at the weekend to keep myself fresh and finish the Premier League campaign on a high.” 

The Liverpool fan was then asked if he would choose You’ll Never Walk Alone as his walk-on music in front of his hometown crowd. 

He joked: “It’ll definitely be Titanium. I think all the Evertonians will boo me out of the arena with You’ll Never Walk Alone!”