This has the potential to be an interesting fixture as Linfield have their supposed home advantage, while Crusaders are ahead 0 points in the Premiership table.
- Linfield have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Crusaders have the most points from losing position (12) in Premiership
These teams are so close in distance that this match is special, a derby with local pride the main prize.
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Linfield and Crusaders.
Linfield form and stats
The story so far in the Premiership for Linfield at their home stadium (Windsor Park) is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats.
The Linfield goalkeeper is looking to record 90 more "clean sheet" minutes as his team have now played 302 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premiership.
A draw after 90 minutes last time out for Linfield, who played 0-0 against Crusaders. That match was also played at this venue (Windsor Park).
Before that game, the 1-0 home victory against Larne.This is expected to be a close game, with Linfield perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Linfield as a small favourite), we find 6 games. Linfield has won 2 of these, drawn 2 and lost 2.
It should be taken into account that a look at the 12 latest league games reveals that 9 of them qualified as a both teams not to score result (only one or none of the sides scored a goal).
A decent goal production from Linfield in their home games so far, with 12 goals from 8 league matches. 10 goals have been conceded. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only 1 of these goals has been conceded in their last three home matches.
Crusaders form and stats
Playing away, Crusaders have won 3 games, drawn 2 and suffered 3 defeats in the Premiership this season.
The Crusaders goalkeeper is collecting clean sheets like a laundry worker. It's been 190 league minutes without conceding a goal, and counting.
Crusaders has to pack their bags again for the second away game in a row. Last time they traveled to Linfield for a 0-0 draw.
A home win before that, celebrating 4-0 vs Newry City AFC.So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Crusaders playing away and similar expectations, we found 10 relevant matches. Results were 2 Crusaders wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats.
Crusaders have scored 11 goals on their travels this season, from 8 away games in the league. Crusaders struggle to build an impenetrable defensive wall in away matches with a total of 13 goals conceded from these games.
Head 2 Head
The latest head to head meeting ended Linfield - Crusaders 0-0, earlier this season. Previous ten meetings involving these sides: Linfield won seven, Crusaders were winners in two and we saw one draw. seven games with over 2,5 goals, three matches with less than 2,5 goals.
Top Goalscorers
  P. Lowry 12 goals |  J. Cooper 5 goals | R. McDaid 5 goals |
Linfield missing players
Crusaders missing players
| Linfield | Crusaders | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 17 | 8 | 4 | Played | P | 2 | 8 | 17 |
| 10 | 4 | 1 | Won | W | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | Lost | L | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 29 | 12 | 3 | Scored | S | 5 | 11 | 35 |
| 15 | 10 | 7 | Conceded | C | 5 | 13 | 20 |
| 82% | 75% | 75% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 75% | 88% |
| 71% | 62% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 75% | 82% |
| 59% | 62% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 100% | 62% | 71% |
| 29% | 38% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 50% | 38% | 41% |
| 12% | 25% | 25% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 50% | 25% | 24% |
| 35% | 38% | 25% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 62% | 59% |
| 59% | 50% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 38% | 35% |
| 24% | 38% | 50% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 25% | 18% |
| 6.2 | 5.5 | 4.5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4 | 4 | 5.1 |
| 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.8 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5 | 4.9 | 4.1 |
| 1.7 | 2.1 | 3 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 3 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 9.8 | 10 | 7.2 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 14.5 | 10.9 | 11.7 |
| 4.9 | 5 | 2.8 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 8 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| 35% | 30% | 27% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 31% | 33% | 40% |
| 8.9 | 10.9 | 13.8 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 6 | 7.8 | 6.3 |
| 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.5 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 4 | 4 | 3.1 |
- Crusaders have the most points from losing position (12) in Premiership
- Crusaders have won significantly less corners away then at home.
- Linfield have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Larne | 17 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 35 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 22 | 38 |
| 2 | Cliftonville | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 36 |
| 3 | Glentoran | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 25 | 35 |
| 4 | Crusaders | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 33 |
| 5 | Linfield | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 5 | 14 | 33 |
| 6 | Coleraine | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 27 |
| 7 | Carrick Rangers | 17 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 25 | 32 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 19 | -7 | 22 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 31 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 20 |
| 9 | Ballymena United | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -5 | 20 |
| 10 | Newry City AFC | 17 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 35 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 22 | -16 | 15 |
| 11 | Dungannon Swifts | 17 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 41 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 27 | -32 | 7 |
| 12 | Portadown | 17 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 44 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 22 | -40 | 1 |
