Linfield vs Cliftonville: match statistics
Linfield vs Cliftonville: form, goals and key statistics
Key match information
Linfield played Cliftonville in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The match was played on 25 April 2026. Final score: 1:2.
Current form
Linfield: 1-1-3, 0.80 points/match. Cliftonville: 1-1-3, 0.80 points/match.
Goal statistics
Linfield scores 1.62 and concedes 0.84 goals per match. Cliftonville scores 1.43 and concedes 1.57. League average: 2.88 goals.
BTTS / Over / Under
BTTS: Linfield 38%, Cliftonville 57%. Over 2.5: Linfield 46%, Cliftonville 57%. League level: BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.
xG, shots and style
Linfield has higher xG: 1.55 vs 1.43. Linfield: 12.2 shots per match, Cliftonville: 11.9.
Match halves
Linfield: half-time lead 38%, second-half goals 1.03. Cliftonville: half-time lead 27%, second-half goals 0.84.
Goals by minute
Linfield: 61-75 (16 goals). Cliftonville: 76-90+ (14 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.
League context
NIFL Premiership: 2.88 goals per match, BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.
Head-to-head
Before this fixture, 3 previous H2H matches were available: 1-1-1. Average goals 1.00, BTTS 0%.
Archived pre-match analysis
This analysis was prepared before kick-off. The conclusions use only information available before the match and do not include the final result or post-match statistics.
General match analysis
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.
View the statistical overviewBTTS - will both teams score?
The 'BTTS - Yes' scenario appears more likely: seasonal BTTS rate is 58% for Linfield and 56% for Cliftonville, both above the league average of 50%. Linfield scores 1.68 goals per match on average (xG 1.56), while Cliftonville concedes 1.72 goals on average, indicating a strong chance of home goals. Cliftonville has xG 1.31 versus the average xG against the hosts of 1.42, so the difference is small and gives Cliftonville a realistic opportunity to score. Additionally, Linfield averages 4.68 shots on target versus Cliftonville’s 3.94, and clean sheets occur in 32% of Linfield’s matches and only 22% of Cliftonville’s matches, which favors goals conceded by both sides. Considering these figures and the last 5 matches, where Linfield concedes 1.8 goals on average and Cliftonville 2.2, I assess the probability of BTTS at 67% (Yes) and 33% (No).
View BTTS statisticsOver/Under - goals analysis
I assess the chance of Over 1.5 as high — the model gives 1.55 xG for Linfield and 1.36 xG for Cliftonville, totalling 2.91 expected goals, which strongly supports at least 2 goals. This season Linfield have had 79% of matches over 1.5 goals and Cliftonville 72% (average 75.5%), aligning with the 76% forecast for Over 1.5. Linfield average 13.11 shots and 4.68 on target with a 13% conversion rate, and Cliftonville 10.61 shots and 3.94 on target with an 11% conversion — this generates enough opportunities for goals. Both teams also register high BTTS rates: 58% for the home side and 56% for the away side, and Cliftonville concedes 1.72 goals per match on average, which further boosts scoring probability. Over 2.5 has a moderate chance at 57%, while Over 3.5 is less likely (38%), so the safest and strongest decision from the data is Over 1.5.
View Over/Under statisticsHT/FT - half-time and full-time scenario
Linfield hold a clear advantage: 47% home win rate versus 28% away win rate for Cliftonville, and average xG of 1.56 for Linfield compared to 1.31 for Cliftonville. The hosts led at the break in 32% of matches, while the visitors did so in only 22%, with similar average goals by half (1.26 for Linfield vs 1.44 for Cliftonville), but Linfield score more in minutes 0–15 (5 vs 3), indicating greater early-phase activity. Linfield’s superiority in the second half is significant: they average 1.11 goals after the break versus 0.56 for Cliftonville and win the second half in 53% of matches compared to 22% for the visitors. Additionally, the hosts register 13.11 shots on average with 4.68 on target, while Cliftonville average 10.61 and 3.94, and shot accuracy is 13% versus 11%, which increases the likelihood of maintaining a lead. On this basis the most likely scenario is 1/1 (lead at the break and Linfield full-time) — I assign it 26%, with X/1 (draw at half-time, home win) as the second option at 20%, because the numbers show a stronger second-half performance from the hosts.
View first-half and second-half statisticsHalf-by-half
Match statistics
Pre-match profile— what 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.
Team stats— who is more efficient?
Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.
Shooting quality
| Linfield | Cliftonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (shots on target) | 39% | 36% |
| Chance quality (xG per shot) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Finishing (goals per shot on target) | 0.34 | 0.33 |
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 form— who is in better shape?
Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.
Goals— how 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 13% better for: goals scored per match.
1.62 goals / match - Linfield · 1.43 goals / match - Cliftonville
Linfield is 87% better for: goals conceded per match.
0.84 goals / match - Linfield · 1.57 goals / match - Cliftonville
Linfield scores in 70% of matches (26 of 37 matches), while Cliftonville keeps a clean sheet in 27% (10 of 37 matches).
Cliftonville scores in 76% of matches (28 of 37 matches), while Linfield keeps a clean sheet in 43% (16 of 37 matches).
How often they score at least...
How often they concede at least...
* 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.
Goal patterns
BTTS and goal count
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.
Full match - team comparison (Over)
Over / Under - Linfield
Over / Under - Cliftonville
1st half
2nd half
Match halves— when 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 32% better for: first-half form (half-time points).
1.57 pts / match - Linfield · 1.19 pts / match - Cliftonville
Before half-time (1st half)
After half-time (2nd half)
Linfield - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 38% of matches and wins 51%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.
Concedes 0.2 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.
Cliftonville - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 27% of matches and wins 38%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.
Defence stays stable across the full match.
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 0.80 | 0.60 |
| Goals scored / match | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Goals conceded / match | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| Average goals in match | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| 1 goal | 100% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 40% | 20% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 20% | 20% |
| No goal | 60% | 80% |
| Goal difference | -3 | -2 |
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 0.80 | 1.20 |
| Goals scored / match | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Goals conceded / match | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| Average goals in match | 2.2 | 1.4 |
| 1 goal | 80% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 60% | 40% |
| 3 goals | 20% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 40% | 40% |
| No goal | 60% | 60% |
| Goal difference | -3 | -3 |
* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.
Goals by minute— when do goals arrive?
Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.
Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (16 goals). Concedes most in 46-60 (8). Late-goal balance (76-90): +7 - wins late phases.
Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (14 goals). Concedes most in 31-45 (15). Late-goal balance (76-90): +4 - wins late phases.
* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.
Additional team indicators— what do xG, efficiency and form show?
A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.
Match profile
Linfield
Cliftonville
* 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 context— is this a high-scoring league?
How both teams compare with league-wide averages (NIFL Premiership).
Teams vs league
| Linfield | Liga | Cliftonville | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average goals in match | ▼ 2.46 | 2.88 | ▲ 3.00 |
| Both teams scored | ▼ 38% | 51% | ▲ 57% |
| Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) | ▼ 46% | 55% | ▲ 57% |
| Clean sheets | ▲ 43% | 27% | • 27% |
| Goal before half-time | ▼ 65% | 76% | ▼ 73% |
| Goal after half-time | ▼ 76% | 80% | ▼ 78% |
^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.
Lineups and player events
Verified starters, substitutes and recorded player events for this match.
Home team
Starting lineup
Away team
Starting lineup
Match timeline
Goals, cards and substitutions arranged in chronological order.
Referee and managers
Open their season profiles to compare match records, goals and disciplinary trends.
Referee context
See how often this referee shows cards, awards penalties and how their matches tend to finish.
Head-to-head
Recent meetings (3): Linfield 1 - 1 - 1 Cliftonville. Average goals 1.00, both teams scored in 0% matches.
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 1.62 goals per game on average and Cliftonville 1.43. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.88 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 55% of games. Both teams score in 38% of Linfield's matches and 57% of Cliftonville's.
What form are Linfield and Cliftonville in?
Over the last 5 games Linfield have a 1-1-3 record (0.80 points per game) and Cliftonville 1-1-3 (0.80 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.