Northern Ireland - NIFL PremiershipData current as of 16 July 2026

Linfield vs Cliftonville: match statistics

Linfield crest
Linfield
1 : 2half-time 1:2
Cliftonville crest
Cliftonville

Linfield vs Cliftonville: form, goals and key statistics

Key match information

Linfield play Cliftonville in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The match date is 25 April 2026 at 18:30. Final score: 1:2.

Current form

Linfield: 2-0-3, 1.20 points/match. Cliftonville: 2-0-3, 1.20 points/match.

Goal statistics

Linfield scores 1.64 and concedes 0.87 goals per match. Cliftonville scores 1.44 and concedes 1.56. League average: 2.94 goals.

BTTS / Over / Under

BTTS: Linfield 41%, Cliftonville 59%. Over 2.5: Linfield 49%, Cliftonville 59%. League level: BTTS 52%, Over 2.5 56%.

xG, shots and style

Linfield has higher xG: 1.56 vs 1.41. Linfield: 12.3 shots per match, Cliftonville: 11.8.

Match halves

Linfield: half-time lead 38%, second-half goals 1.03. Cliftonville: half-time lead 28%, second-half goals 0.79.

Goals by minute

Linfield: 61-75 (18 goals). Cliftonville: 76-90+ (14 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.

League context

NIFL Premiership: 2.94 goals per match, BTTS 52%, Over 2.5 56%.

Head-to-head

3 H2H matches: 1-1-1. Average goals 1.00, BTTS 0%.

Match description

Linfield holds a clear home advantage: 72% home win rate, averaging 2.11 goals scored and only 0.67 conceded per match. Cliftonville win just 28% of away games, score 1.17 goals and concede 1.72 away, with an away goal difference of -10. Hosts average 12.22 shots per match with 4.78 on target and a conversion rate of 17%, while visitors average 10.61 shots, 3.94 on target and an 11% conversion. Quality metrics also favour Linfield: home xG is 1.55 versus Cliftonville’s 1.31 xG away, and visitors concede 1.53 xG on the road, indicating defensive issues. Although both teams have collected 0.8 points in their last 5 matches, higher efficiency, lower turnover rate and 50% clean sheets for Linfield support a home win selection.

Half-by-half

1 : 2
1st half
0 : 0
2nd half

Match statistics

54Possession (%)46
LinfieldCliftonville
10Shots12
LinfieldCliftonville
5Shots on target6
LinfieldCliftonville
1.41xG1.47
LinfieldCliftonville
7Corners3
LinfieldCliftonville
59Dangerous attacks40
LinfieldCliftonville
11Fouls13
LinfieldCliftonville
0Cards1
LinfieldCliftonville

Pre-match profilewhat do the season numbers say?

This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.

LinfieldCliftonville
1.64Goals scored / match1.44
LinfieldCliftonville
0.87Goals conceded / match1.56
LinfieldCliftonville
54%Average possession52%
LinfieldCliftonville
4.85Shots on target / match4.28
LinfieldCliftonville

Team statswho is more efficient?

Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.

12.26Shots per match11.77
LinfieldCliftonville
4.85Shots on target4.28
LinfieldCliftonville
13.4%Shot conversion12.2%
LinfieldCliftonville
54%Possession52%
LinfieldCliftonville
1.56xG for1.41
LinfieldCliftonville
1.16xG against1.46
LinfieldCliftonville

Shooting quality

Linfield: Efficient finishingCliftonville: Balanced
LinfieldCliftonville
Accuracy (shots on target)40%36%
Chance quality (xG per shot)0.130.12
Finishing (goals per shot on target)0.340.34

xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.

* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.

Team formwho is in better shape?

Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.

Linfield
WLLLW
Season result split
51% W23% R26% P
Season (W-D-L)
20-9-10
1.77 pts / match · goal difference +30
Last 5 (W-D-L)
2-0-3
1.20 pts / match
Record at home (W-D-L)
14-2-4
Last 5 at home
2-0-3
WLLLW
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 1.4Goals conceded: 1.8xG: 1.42Opponent xG: 1.58BTTS: 60%Over 2.5: 80%
Cliftonville
LLWWL
Season result split
38% W21% R41% P
Season (W-D-L)
15-8-16
1.36 pts / match · goal difference -5
Last 5 (W-D-L)
2-0-3
1.20 pts / match
Record away (W-D-L)
6-4-9
Last 5 away
1-0-4
LLLLW
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 1.4Goals conceded: 2.2xG: 1.27Opponent xG: 1.38BTTS: 80%Over 2.5: 80%

Goalshow do both teams score and concede?

How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.

Linfield is 14% better for: goals scored per match.

1.64 goals / match - Linfield · 1.44 goals / match - Cliftonville

Linfield is 79% better for: goals conceded per match.

0.87 goals / match - Linfield · 1.56 goals / match - Cliftonville

Linfield scoring profile: very strong

Linfield scores in 72% of matches (28 of 39 matches), while Cliftonville keeps a clean sheet in 26% (10 of 39 matches).

Cliftonville scoring profile: strong

Cliftonville scores in 77% of matches (30 of 39 matches), while Linfield keeps a clean sheet in 41% (16 of 39 matches).

64Goals scored (season)56
LinfieldCliftonville
34Goals conceded (season)61
LinfieldCliftonville
2.51Average goals in match3
LinfieldCliftonville
7Goals scored (last 5)7
LinfieldCliftonville
9Goals conceded (last 5)11
LinfieldCliftonville

How often they score at least...

72%1 goal77%
LinfieldCliftonville
41%2 goals41%
LinfieldCliftonville
31%3 goals15%
LinfieldCliftonville
10%4 goals5%
LinfieldCliftonville

How often they concede at least...

59%1 goal74%
LinfieldCliftonville
23%2 goals54%
LinfieldCliftonville
5%3 goals15%
LinfieldCliftonville
0%4 goals8%
LinfieldCliftonville

* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.

Both teams scored (BTTS)how often do both teams score?

How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.

52%
League average

Goal patterns

10%BTTS at half-time26%
LinfieldCliftonville
0%BTTS in both halves8%
LinfieldCliftonville
33%Scored in both halves21%
LinfieldCliftonville

BTTS and goal count

31%Min. 3 goals and BTTS54%
LinfieldCliftonville
18%Min. 3 goals without BTTS5%
LinfieldCliftonville
60%BTTS - last 580%
LinfieldCliftonville

Goal count (Over/Under)how often do these matches cross the goal lines?

How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.

1st half

67%Min. 1 goal before half-time74%
LinfieldCliftonville
26%Min. 2 goals before half-time38%
LinfieldCliftonville
3%Min. 3 goals before half-time13%
LinfieldCliftonville

2nd half

74%Min. 1 goal after half-time77%
LinfieldCliftonville
49%Min. 2 goals after half-time49%
LinfieldCliftonville
23%Min. 3 goals after half-time23%
LinfieldCliftonville

Match halveswhen do the teams score more often?

How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.

Linfield is 27% better for: first-half form (half-time points).

1.56 pts / match - Linfield · 1.23 pts / match - Cliftonville

Linfield - half-time state
38% leading41% draw21% trailing
Cliftonville - half-time state
28% leading38% draw33% trailing

Before half-time (1st half)

1.56Points per match (1st half)1.23
LinfieldCliftonville
0.62Goals scored (1st half)0.64
LinfieldCliftonville
0.33Goals conceded (1st half)0.77
LinfieldCliftonville
0.95Average goals (1st half)1.41
LinfieldCliftonville
72%Clean sheet before half-time46%
LinfieldCliftonville
51%No goal before half-time54%
LinfieldCliftonville

After half-time (2nd half)

1.64Points per match (2nd half)1.38
LinfieldCliftonville
1.03Goals scored (2nd half)0.79
LinfieldCliftonville
0.54Goals conceded (2nd half)0.79
LinfieldCliftonville
1.56Average goals (2nd half)1.59
LinfieldCliftonville
62%Clean sheet after half-time46%
LinfieldCliftonville
44%No goal after half-time49%
LinfieldCliftonville

Linfield - second-half results

44% W33% R23% P
61
Half-time points
24
Half-time goals
+11
Goal difference (1st half)
64
Second-half points
+19
Goal difference (2nd half)
1.56
PPG before half-time
Lead holding134%

Leads at half-time in 38% of matches and wins 51%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time+0.2

Concedes 0.2 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.

Cliftonville - second-half results

36% W31% R33% P
48
Half-time points
25
Half-time goals
-5
Goal difference (1st half)
54
Second-half points
0
Goal difference (2nd half)
1.23
PPG before half-time
Lead holding136%

Leads at half-time in 28% of matches and wins 38%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time+0.0

Defence stays stable across the full match.

Linfield - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match0.801.40
Goals scored / match0.60.8
Goals conceded / match1.20.6
Average goals in match1.81.4
1 goal100%80%
2 goals60%40%
3 goals20%20%
Clean sheet20%40%
No goal40%60%
Goal difference-3+1
Half-time: 20% leading - 20% draw - 60% trailing
2nd half: 40% won - 20% draw - 40% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 40% - Half-time goals total: 3
Cliftonville - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match1.001.40
Goals scored / match1.00.4
Goals conceded / match1.60.6
Average goals in match2.61.0
1 goal80%80%
2 goals80%20%
3 goals40%0%
Clean sheet20%60%
No goal40%60%
Goal difference-3-1
Half-time: 20% leading - 40% draw - 40% trailing
2nd half: 40% won - 20% draw - 40% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 60% - Half-time goals total: 5

* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.

Goals by minutewhen do goals arrive?

Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.

Linfield
ScoredConceded
10
5
0-15
8
5
16-30
6
3
31-45
10
8
46-60
18
7
61-75
12
6
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (18 goli). Concedes most in 46-60 (8). Late-goal balance (76-90): +6 - wins late phases.

Cliftonville
ScoredConceded
9
3
0-15
7
11
16-30
9
16
31-45
10
8
46-60
7
13
61-75
14
10
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (14 goli). Concedes most in 31-45 (16). Late-goal balance (76-90): +4 - wins late phases.

* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.

Additional team indicatorswhat do xG, efficiency and form show?

A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.

Match profile

2.75
Estimated goals
attack vs opponent defence
1.6 : 1.2
Estimated goal split
home : away
94%
Pace vs league
100% = league average
50%
Both teams scored (BTTS)
average from both teams' seasons
-64%
Derby effect
H2H goals vs typical matches
55%
BTTS estimate
from both teams' scoring frequency
6%
0:0 risk
about 1 in 17 matches
0-1
Most common goal range
attack vs defence on both sides

Linfield

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
+0.40
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
+0.37
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-22.2 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.08
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.29
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
102%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
65%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
-0.57
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.4
Late goals
19% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 16% come in the first quarter-hour.
19%

Cliftonville

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
-0.05
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
-0.07
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-0.5 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.03
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
-0.10
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
108%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
97%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
-0.16
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.2
Late goals
25% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 16% come in the first quarter-hour.
25%

* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.

League contextis this a high-scoring league?

How both teams compare with league-wide averages (NIFL Premiership).

Teams vs league

LinfieldLigaCliftonville
Average goals in match 2.512.94 3.00
Both teams scored 41%52% 59%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) 49%56% 59%
Clean sheets 41%26% 26%
Goal before half-time 67%76% 74%
Goal after half-time 74%80% 77%

^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.

2.94
Average goals per match
52%
Both teams scored
56%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5)
26%
Clean sheets
1.61
Home goals / match
1.33
Away goals / match
+21%
Home attack advantage
+17%
Home defence advantage
+11%
Total home advantage
Goals in 1st half (whole league)
76%
1 goal
40%
2 goals
13%
3 goals
3%
4 goals
Goals in 2nd half (whole league)
80%
1 goal
47%
2 goals
22%
3 goals
8%
4 goals

Head-to-head

Recent meetings (3): Linfield 1 - 1 - 1 Cliftonville. Average goals 1.00, both teams scored in 0% matches.

Cliftonville FC
2 : 0
Linfield FC
Cliftonville FC
0 : 0
Linfield FC
Linfield FC
1 : 0
Cliftonville FC

FAQ

What was the result of Linfield vs Cliftonville?

The NIFL Premiership match finished Linfield 1:2 Cliftonville. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.

What is the head-to-head record between Linfield and Cliftonville?

In the last 3 head-to-head matches Linfield won 1, Cliftonville won 1 and 1 ended level. These games averaged 1.00 goals, with both teams scoring in 0% of them.

What do the goal statistics show before Linfield vs Cliftonville?

Linfield score 1.64 goals per game on average and Cliftonville 1.44. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.94 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 56% of games. Both teams score in 41% of Linfield's matches and 59% of Cliftonville's.

What form are Linfield and Cliftonville in?

Over the last 5 games Linfield have a 2-0-3 record (1.20 points per game) and Cliftonville 2-0-3 (1.20 points per game).

Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Linfield vs Cliftonville?

Here you can check the pre-match numbers for Linfield vs Cliftonville: form, H2H, goals and Over/Under. The pick itself, value and reasoning are published in the NoFluffPicks app.