Stephen Bunting says that Liverpool winning the Premier League title will be 'special'

"Obviously 30 years is a long time since the last championship and if we can get over the line this year it will be special"

By Raz Mirza, Interviews, Comment & Analysis @RazMirza

Image: Stephen Bunting hopes Liverpool will be crowed Premier League champions

Stephen Bunting says that his beloved Liverpool being crowned Premier League champions for the first time will be "special" not just for him, but the whole city.

The St Helens ace, who was just four years old the last time the Reds won the league title in 1990, returned to the Premier League Darts stage as a Challenger on Thursday night.

Bunting held former world champion Rob Cross to a well-earned 6-6 draw at the M&S Bank Arena.

And following the keenly contested match talk turned to Jurgen Klopp's side closing in on their 19th league crown following their shock Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid after extra time the night before.

Image: The Reds suffered a shock Champions League exit on Wednesday night at Anfield

Bunting was asked by Sky Sports' Raz Mirza what happened from Liverpool leading 2-0 on the night and in a commanding position in the tie, to losing the match 3-2 and 4-2 on aggregate.

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"I got in from where I was, I went to bed and then I woke up this morning," joked Bunting, who finished eighth in the 2015 Premier League.

"To be honest that was one of Liverpool's best performances of the season. I think they were sharp, solid, looked fresh and then obviously after extra time it's a bit different isn't it?

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"I was happy with the performance, just not the result."

They need the silverware and the Premier League is one of the biggest out there
Bunting is hoping Liverpool will win the league title soon

And with the Reds closing in on an historic first Premier League title, Bunting could not contain his excitement at the thought of seeing his side lift the trophy at the end of the season.

"It's massive, not for me, but for the whole city," he said. "Obviously 30 years is a long time since the last championship and if we can get over the line this year it will be special. The streets will be lined and the scenes will be all over the TV and all over the world.

"They need the silverware and the Premier League is one of the biggest out there."

Image: John Barnes and Peter Beardsley after winning Liverpool's last league title in 1990

Bunting made a superb start to his match against Cross as two breaks of throw, including a 13-darter, moved him into a 4-1 advantage.

Cross took the next three to level and finished 119 to move ahead, before a third-dart double 16 secured a point at 6-5, only for a missed double 18 to allow Bunting in to share the spoils.

Hopefully I can be back in the Premier League full-time in the future
Bunting held Rob Cross to a draw

Bunting, 34, said: "Rob is a difficult player to play and I've never beaten him yet, but in the future I will get him.

"I'm disappointed with the performance to be honest, I've been playing better than that. Being back up on that stage is going to take time to get used to, but I need to get used to it because it's where I want to be.

"Hopefully I can be back in the Premier League full-time in the future."

Night Seven, March 19: Utilita Arena, Newcastle

Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen vs Rob Cross
Nathan Aspinall vs Gerwyn Price
Chris Dobey vs Daryl Gurney
Peter Wright vs Glen Durrant

Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts.

Live Premier League Darts

Coverage of the Premier League is due to continue on Thursday, March 19 from the Utilita Arena, Newcastle at 7pm on Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Action with local hero Chris Dobey taking on Daryl Gurney. Don't forget, the Premier League is on every Thursday all the way through until the Play-Offs in London.

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