Cliftonville FC's strong league position is tempered by a difficult recent record against one of their top-six rivals. The Reds sit third in the Irish Premiership with 12 points from six games, but have lost three of their last four meetings with fifth-placed Larne, including a 2-0 defeat in March.
Recent form and results
Jim Magilton's side are currently on a two-game winning run, having beaten Carrick Rangers 3-1 last Saturday and Portadown by the same scoreline the week before. Those victories followed back-to-back league defeats against Dungannon Swifts and Linfield. The team's form reads WWLLW over their last five outings, with 11 goals scored and six conceded so far this season.
The Larne challenge
The head-to-head record against Larne makes for stark reading. Since October 2025, Cliftonville have suffered three defeats and managed only a single goalless draw against the Inver Park side. The most recent encounter, a 2-0 loss at Solitude in late March, highlighted a recurring issue. This historical struggle is a key context as the league prepares to split into the Championship Round for the top six teams.
Looking ahead to Linfield
Attention now turns to the next major test: an away trip to face Linfield on December 19. Linfield currently occupy second place, just two points ahead of Cliftonville. The last meeting between the sides ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for the Reds at Windsor Park in August. Securing a positive result there will be vital for maintaining their top-three status. The current standings show Cliftonville four points behind leaders Coleraine.
Magilton will hope the goalscoring form of players like Ben Quinn and Ben Healy, who both netted in the recent wins, continues against the league's elite. The manager has previously emphasised the need for consistency in these key fixtures. The squad's depth and injury status ahead of this busy period can be tracked on the club's injuries page. The December clash at Windsor Park is now firmly circled on the calendar.
