A key match in Premiership as both teams are battling for the top positions. With Linfield in 1st position and Crusaders placed 4th, this promises to be an exciting meeting. Read on to find out more!
Both teams have had enough rest since their last competitive action. Let's hope for an energetic game!
These teams are located so close to each other that their supporters eat in the same restaurants, hang out at the same night clubs and give birth at the same hospitals. This means added importance to the game and a vibrant atmosphere.
Linfield form and stats
11-2-1 is the performance here at Windsor Park so far in the Premiership, giving Linfield a total of 35 from their 14 games here. Outstanding results! The Linfield fans aren't used to losing here at Windsor Park and will expect new points from this game. Linfield has played twelve games in a row here without a defeat.
Linfield enjoyed a nice away win last time out, playing at Ballymena United's place. The match ended 4-1 with J. Callacher, A. Waterworth, J. Stewart and M. Haughey scoring. Before that match, a win away at Warrenpoint Town.
Linfield are showing their attacking force in their league home games this season, scoring more than 2,5 goals per game on average (40 goals in 14 games). From these home matches, Linfield have conceded only 9 goals.
Crusaders form and stats
As the visiting team in Premiership matches, Crusaders, who have the most scored goals (31) away in Premiership, have produced an overall stat of 7-5-2 so far.
Crusaders play their second straight away game, having lost the previous one 1-2 to Coleraine (placed 3rd). A 1-2 defeat away at Glenavon before that.
Crusaders have scored more than twice on average per away game (in the league), an impressive attacking display. They have 31 goals from 14 away matches. It's not easy to score on Crusaders as they have only conceded 13 goals from these away games.
Head 2 Head
Linfield and Crusaders have met before this season: Linfield - Crusaders 1-1. Numbers for the last ten meetings between these two teams are: three wins for Linfield, two draws and five wins for Crusaders. Over 2,5 goals: three times; under 2,5 goals: seven games.Top Goalscorers
  A. Waterworth 12 goals |   J. McGonigle 12 goals |  J. Cooper 11 goals |
Linfield missing players
Crusaders missing players
| Linfield | Crusaders | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 29 | 14 | 2 | Played | P | 3 | 14 | 28 |
| 20 | 11 | 1 | Won | W | 1 | 7 | 16 |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | Drew | D | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | Lost | L | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 65 | 40 | 3 | Scored | S | 4 | 31 | 64 |
| 24 | 9 | 4 | Conceded | C | 5 | 13 | 25 |
| 97% | 93% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 93% | 96% |
| 72% | 71% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 79% | 82% |
| 59% | 57% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 33% | 50% | 57% |
| 28% | 36% | 50% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 43% | 39% |
| 21% | 29% | 50% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 33% | 21% | 21% |
| 45% | 43% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 67% | 57% | 46% |
| 41% | 57% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 43% | 46% |
| 17% | 7% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 7% | 11% |
| 7.5 | 8.4 | 9 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.3 | 5.1 | 4.8 |
| 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 7.3 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| 1.2 | 1 | 2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 274 | 174 | 22 | Total Shots | T S | 36 | 146 | 332 |
| 118 | 75 | 7 | Shots on Target | S O | 18 | 65 | 144 |
| 47% | 44% | 43% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 22% | 35% | 36% |
- Crusaders has the most dropped points from leading position (19)
- Crusaders has the most scored goals (31) away
- Crusaders has the most scored goals in the second half (37)
- Crusaders has the the best goal difference (+18) away
- Crusaders have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Linfield has the most points (35) at home
- Linfield has the most scored goals (40) at home
- Linfield has the most scored goals (65)
- Linfield has the most scored goals in the first half (36)
- Linfield has the the best goal difference (+31) at home
- Linfield has the the best goal difference (+41)
- Linfield have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Linfield have won at least twice as many corners as they have conceded.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Linfield | 29 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 65 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 15 | 41 | 63 |
| 2 | Glentoran | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 58 | 29 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 34 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 18 | 29 | 57 |
| 3 | Coleraine | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 14 | 33 | 56 |
| 4 | Crusaders | 28 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 64 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 13 | 39 | 55 |
| 5 | Cliftonville | 28 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 11 | 24 | 54 |
| 6 | Larne | 29 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 57 | 29 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 14 | 28 | 50 |
| 7 | Glenavon | 28 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 43 | 66 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 18 | 48 | -23 | 34 |
| 8 | Carrick Rangers | 29 | 10 | 2 | 17 | 33 | 43 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 21 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 22 | -10 | 32 |
| 9 | Ballymena United | 29 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 43 | 52 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 24 | -9 | 29 |
| 10 | Dungannon Swifts | 29 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 31 | 81 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 39 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 42 | -50 | 23 |
| 11 | Warrenpoint Town | 29 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 22 | 80 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 40 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 40 | -58 | 17 |
| 12 | Institute | 29 | 2 | 9 | 18 | 22 | 66 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 37 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 29 | -44 | 15 |