Rob Cross keeps his play-off hopes going after averaging 100.05 and hitting 75% of his darts at double.

In contrast, Stephen Bunting was down at 91.01 and 25%. He did hit the only 180 of the match but it's probably the last night he'd have picked for an off night.

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

That was a darting demolition job by Rob Cross.

Image source, PA Media

Job done for Rob Cross - hitting double 16 to win it.

A muted reception from a disappointed Liverpool crowd.

Stephen Bunting didn't turn up but Cross certainly did, impressive stuff.

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

Stephen Bunting is having one of those nights in front of his adoring public. It was a night he wanted to play well and he hasn't.

Rob Cross is closing in.

Double 16 caps off a 13-darter.

Has the pressure of playing in front of his home crowd got to Stephen Bunting?

Possibly but Cross is also averaging 100 and been clinical on the doubles, too.

Image source, PA Media

Quiet descends over the M&S Bank Arena as Rob Cross hits tops for a 4-1 lead.

Much better from Cross and with Stephen Bunting struggling to find the trebles, the 2018 world champion has moved into a dominant position.

Can The Bullet produce the night's second dramatic comeback?

Big chance for Stephen Bunting to level it up... but he misses two darts at double 16.

Rob Cross had already missed double 18 to win it.

Not a vintage leg but any stretch but a 20-darter gets it done for Voltage.

Image source, PA Media

Cheers from the fans in Liverpool as Stephen Bunting hits double eight to hold.

He's up and running. Can he kick on and get the win that the fans at the M&S Bank Arena so crave?

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Image source, PA Media

This is a homecoming a decade in the making for avid Liverpool FC fan Stephen Bunting, and his walk-on was greeted with all the enthusiasm you’d expect from a boisterous crowd.

“Ten years ago, playing in the Premier League, I was coming on to Bird is the Word. It wasn't a song that really meant anything to me,” he said beforehand.

“Now I'm coming on to Titanium, with nothing to lose, bulletproof, all the taglines. It's my son's favourite song. It's a lot more of an emotional song attached with me, and that's why you see the emotion."

Double 16 for Rob Cross and a straightforward hold.

He has a great record against Stephen Bunting, having won 14 of their previous 18 matches.

Not what the locals want to hear.

The fans might be against him but that doesn't seem to be bothering Rob Cross.

A couple of two-treble visits early in the leg give him a healthy advantage and with Stephen Bunting unable to get it back, Cross wins it on double three.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

The crowd really can be the difference for Stephen Bunting tonight.

He was folding quite a lot in the first eight weeks even though he was playing quite well.

He's got to hold himself together tonight. They love him here and he's got a massive following.

He can win the night, I really do think that. He's been great recently. He can't get wrapped up in 'I'd love to win in Liverpool'.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen is looking like someone who can go on and win again, but he's been inconsistent so far in the Premier League.

It was great to see how we played under pressure in the European Tour this week because in the Premier League he's buckled under pressure.

In general he's failed, and this is Michael van Gerwen, he's not used to failing. He looks like a possible winner tonight. In a way it is out of his hands though.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Stephen Bunting walked past me backstage a few minutes ago.

A stroke of the chin, a slow stroll.

You'd never know he was about to walk into absolute pandemonium.

As you'd imagine, it's a raucous atmosphere as Stephen Bunting makes his way to the stage.

The crowd sing Titanium right back at it him as he stands and takes it all in.

All fairly respectful for Rob Cross as he follows but make no mistake, this is a partisan crowd all backing Bunting.

John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

It has been one big turn for the past three weeks and people keeping alive their hopes.

Stephen Bunting is still in the mix but he needs another nightly win. Tonight would be the perfect place to do it. It would be quite the story if he could make the play-offs with the start he had.

There a lot of people in the bottom half of the table that are legitimately still involved. That's what we want.

Image source, Getty Images

He might be bottom of the pile with only the faintest hope of making it to finals night, while Rob Cross is still right in the mix for top four - but this one is all about Stephen Bunting.

The crowd in Liverpool will be right behind The Bullet at his home event and it is sure to be an emotional one.

His form has picked up in recent weeks, too. After victory in Berlin, he made the final in Rotterdam last week and was unfortunate to come up against an inspired Luke Humphries in-between in Manchester, losing 6-1 despite finishing with a 105 average.

Another win in front of his home fans might lead to genuine belief that he could make a late surge for the top four but it still seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, Cross has dropped to seventh after quarter-final losses in the last three weeks but remains just four points off third and only two outside the top four.

It's time for the big one as far as the Liverpool crowd are concerned.

They're about to go Bunting mental...

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Image source, PA Media

Luke Littler looked quite emotional as he left the stage there. He looked destined for a comfortable victory, but his night ends early.

How on earth did that match get away from Luke Littler?

He finishes with an average of 98.77 to Michael van Gerwen 95.53 and had six 180s to the Dutchman's nil.

It was on the outer ring that he lost it, though, MVG was six of nine - 66.7% - while Littler was five of 12, 41.7%.