Crusaders FC vs Cliftonville FC Prediction: The biggest NIFL game of the week could go in favor of the hosts

In the upcoming 8th round of the Northern Ireland Premier League, an intriguing battle is set to unfold at Seaview Park as Crusaders and Cliftonville prepare to face off. Cliftonville's recent match against Loughgall ended in a draw, while Crusaders suffered a loss to Glentoran. In light of these outcomes, we anticipate a tightly contested and cautious game. Below, you'll find carefully crafted tips to heighten your anticipation for the upcoming match.

Form: DDWWW

Crusaders seem to be losing some of their momentum, having registered two consecutive draws in their last two league matches. Nonetheless, their overall record remains solid, with four wins and two draws from the six games they have played this season. In their recent league fixture against newly promoted Loughgall, the match ended in a 1-1 draw as Crusaders were unable to secure the crucial winning goal they were seeking.

With an impressive unblemished track record of 4 victories and 2 draws in 6league matches played, the Crusaders are demonstrating extraordinary form. Ben Kennedy stands at the forefront of the team's goal-scoring efforts, having secured 6 goals this season

Form: LDLWW

Cliftonville, after enjoying a series of victories, saw their winning streak come to an end with two losses and a draw in their last three league matches. In their most recent league fixture against Glentoran, they suffered a 1-0 loss. Now, with determination, they are looking to regain their winning form and get back on track as they gear up to face Crusaders on Monday.

Cliftonville has achieved an impressive record of 3 wins, a draw and 2 losses out of 6 games played, accompanied by a notable total of 11 goals scored. Ben Wilson leads the team's efforts on goals with a total of 4 goals scored this season.

A critical look at the last 10 games between them produced 3 wins for the Crusaders, 6 draws, and 2 wins for Cliftonville.

In six of the last seven encounters between these two teams, we've witnessed a total of over 2.5 goals, and considering their recent scoring prowess, it's likely we'll see a similar outcome on Saturday. We are confident in predicting a total of over 2.5 goals in this match.

Moreover, we anticipate both teams finding the back of the net, with odds at 1.62, as a "Both Teams to Score" (BTTS) scenario has occurred in five of their last six meetings. Lastly, we are inclined to believe that the Crusaders will not experience a loss in this game.