Luke Littler Ready to Face Liverpool Boos After ‘Fragile’ Jibe from Rival
Rising darts star Luke Littler is gearing up for a tough night in Liverpool as he anticipates a hostile reception from the crowd during Thursday’s Premier League Darts event at the M&S Bank Arena.
The 17-year-old, a proud Manchester United fan, has never shied away from teasing Liverpool supporters, and his past jabs haven’t been forgotten. One notable moment came last year when he mocked Liverpool fans after a 2-0 loss to Everton.
Stephen Bunting, a local favourite and friend of Littler’s off the oche, won’t be offering any protection from the Merseyside crowd. Speaking ahead of the match, Bunting hinted that Littler’s past antics could come back to bite him.
“He’s going to get a few boos in Liverpool,” said Bunting. “And with how fragile he’s been lately after skipping events in Germany, I don’t think he’ll like it. But sometimes you bring that on yourself.”
Littler, however, isn’t backing down. Taking to X, he posted:
“One of the best nights on the Premier League calendar coming up tomorrow, bring on the boos Liverpool.”
Nicknamed “The Nuke”, Littler recently withdrew from several events in Germany following a semi-final loss at the European Tour in Munich. He admitted he was shaken by the crowd’s jeers during his walk-on and match against Peter Wright.
“I just don’t get it,” Littler said of the negative reaction. “It’s hard when you’re getting booed the moment you step on stage.”
Despite recent challenges, Littler remains one of the frontrunners in this year’s Premier League. He’ll kick off the night facing darts legend Michael van Gerwen. Meanwhile, Bunting, fighting to avoid the bottom of the table, will take on Rob Cross.
Whether he thrives off the boos or lets them rattle him again, all eyes will be on Littler in Liverpool.
