Cliftonville get home advantage for League Cup final

Cliftonville have won home advantage for the 25 January League Cup final against holders Crusaders.

Last season the same north Belfast rivals contested the final at neutral Windsor Park, with Cliftonville romping to a 4-0 victory.

This time, the clubs agreed to toss for the choice of venue and the Reds won.

On Thursday, the clubs drew 1-1 at Seaview in the traditional festive derby, while earlier in the season the Crues won 2-0 away to Cliftonville.

The final will have a 17:30 GMT kick-off at Solitude.

The clubs are currently second and third in the Irish Premiership table with Cliftonville one point better off.

Crusaders' path to the final started with a victory over Newington YC, then came an extra-time success over Coleraine, a penalty shoot-out win against Linfield and another extra-time triumph, this time at home to Ballymena.

Cliftonville had an easier route to the decider, scoring 14 goals and not conceding any, as they knocked out H&W Welders, Dundela, Bangor and Ards.