Glentoran will be without Jay Donnelly for today's contest at Solitude and the Boxing Day Big Two game with Linfield at the Oval.

This is as a result of him being handed a two-match suspension for a provocative gesture during the last Big Two meeting in the BetMcLean Cup game on 3 December.

In addition to Donnelly's suspension, the Glens were fined £250 in relation to the incident during their 1-0 victory at Windsor Park.

Donnelly's sanction was imposed in light of Section 17.1 of the Irish Football Association's Disciplinary Code, namely: "A player or official who provokes the general public during a match will be sanctioned with a minimum 2 match standard suspension and a minimum fine of £250 which will be imposed on their club."

Meanwhile Linfield received a £1,000 fine for a breach of Article 28.2 (a) in relation to spectator misconduct during the fixture.

A separate notice of complaint was also issued in respect of the article which prohibits "the invasion or attempted invasion of the field of play" during the same match against Glentoran on 3 December, with a warning issued for that incident.

Glentoran were also handed a £250 fine following the Big Two derby on Friday 22 November at the Oval for the use of flares or fireworks.

Image source, Inpho

Two teams whose form has deserted them in recent weeks go head-to-head at Lakeview Park with both needing points to kick-start their respective campaigns.

Loughgall make just one change from the side which drew 0-0 at Carrick last week with Conor McCloskey replacing the suspended Tiernan Kelly.

There's one switch as well for Ballymena after their 1-0 defeat by Dungannon seven days ago as Josh Carson comes in for Alex Gawne.

Loughgall: Gartside, Andrade, Murdock, Francis, Rea, Norton, Gibson, Balde, Towe, McCloskey, Ferris.

Subs: Turker, McAleer, Cartwright, Boyd, Harvey, Kelly, Teggart.

Ballymena United: O'Neill, Brown, McCallion, O'Donnell, Lafferty, Rocks, Jarvis, Carson, Scott, Kennedy, McCurry.

Subs: Johnston, Moore, Loughran, Devine, Stewart, Devlin, Hood.

Image source, BBC Sport

Larne's Uefa Conference campaign means they currently have a whopping six games in hand on Irish Premiership leaders Linfield, with the Inver Park men 22 points off the pace.

But while Larne's hopes of a third successive domestic title now look remote their European odyssey did end on a high as Tomas Cosgrove celebrating his new contract by hitting the winner in the 1-0 success over Belgian club Gent.

Cosgrove's children were the Larne mascots on the night at Windsor Park.

"I'm proud and speechless. It's something you dream of when you're a kid. You're watching European football on TV and you want to be that match winner, and I did it here tonight," said Cosgrove after a win which earned Larne £300,000 in prize money.

Image source, Inpho

It's the battle of the Blues as table-toppers Linfield welcome second-bottom Glenavon to Windsor Park this afternoon.

The Lurgan Blues' last win in south Belfast was back in April 2019, but they come in today with momentum after gaining four points from their last two games.

The hosts on the other hand will be looking to further assert themselves at the top of the Irish Premiership ahead of next week's Boxing Day clash with Big Two rivals Glentoran.

David Healy makes just two changes to his starting XI following Tuesday night's win at Stangmore Park. Stephen Fallon and Chris McKee come in for the suspended Joel Cooper and injured Euan East.

Paddy McLaughlin on the other hand names an unchanged side from Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Crusaders.

Linfield: Walsh, Roscoe, Shields, Millar, Hall, McKee, Fallon, Mulgrew (capt), McGee, Fitzpatrick, Orr.

Subs: Johns, Whiteside, McDaid, Ballantyne, Archer, Annett, McKay.

Glenavon: Byrne, Toure, O'Sullivan, Haughey, Snoddy, Malone, McDaid, Campbell, Atherton, McKeown (capt), O'Connor.

Subs: Fry, Quinn, Doona, Lynch, Ward, Doran, McGovern.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dungannon Swifts midfielder James Knowles is gazing into our crystal ball this week to make his Irish Premiership predictions.

Here are his thoughts:

Cliftonville v Glentoran

I think Cliftonville have a few key players suspended for this game and will be very disappointed after their defeat to Portadown. However, at home I fancy them to bounce back even though Glentoran are in a very rich vein of form. A very tight game with hopefully plenty of goals, possibly a late winner.

Prediction: 3-2

Linfield v Glenavon

Paddy McLaughlin's team are coming off the back of a great win at home against Crusaders. Going into the game all the pressure will be on Linfield just like any other week. Regardless, I feel Linfield at home will just have a little too much in attacking areas for Glenavon to cope with.

Prediction: 3-1

Loughgall v Ballymena United

This fixture has two very hard working teams that both need to bounce back after defeats. I think it could go either way so I'll have to sit on the fence for this one.

Prediction: 1-1

Portadown v Crusaders

Portadown are absolutely flying at the minute and are sitting nicely in the league so their confidence will be very high. Declan Caddell's team haven't been able to capitalise in their last two games after taking the lead in each. Again, another tight encounter which could go either way, but I'll go with Crusaders to hold out this time.

Prediction: 1-2

Image source, Inpho

David Healy chose his words carefully on Tuesday night when stating that he had "absolutely no doubt" that Joel Cooper would be still a Linfield player in January but it does seem that the winger's move to Coleraine for next season is signed and sealed.

Cooper has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Coleraine having been been free to speak with other clubs since entering the last six months of his current deal at Linfield.

The 28-year-old winger has been in outstanding form for the Blues this season, scoring 11 league goals to help Healy's side sit 11 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership.

After the 3-0 defeat by Linfield last weekend, Coleraine boss Dean Shiels says the January transfer window was "going to be massive for the club" both in terms of immediate acquisitions and further arrivals in the summer.

Then on Thursday came the new that Henry Ross had become the club's new majority owner following a "significant investment".

The 24-year-old local property developer had been announced as a minority shareholder in October when the club's list of financial backers were headed by Ranald McGregor-Smith and Patrick Mitchell.

Image source, Inpho

Just four days short of Christmas, Linfield appear to be in total control of the Irish Premiership as they go into today's home contest with Glenavon 11 points clear of Dungannon Swifts.

The Blues' 1-0 win at Stangmore Park over their nearest chasers on Tuesday night had the look of a real six pointer as Joel Cooper's 53rd-minute winner secured the points.

Cooper's face has been all over the local back pages this week with the winger seemingly set to join Coleraine at the end of the season, although Linfield boss David Healy insisted that he would not be moving to the Showgrounds during next month's transfer window.

Fourth and fifth-placed Cliftonville and Glentoran, who are level on points, battle at Solitude with the Reds looking to bounce back after having two men sent off in the first half of last weekend's defeat at Portadown.

That win moved Niall Currie's Ports up to the heady heights of third spot in the table and the Shamrock Park outfit will be aiming for a fourth win in five games when they host seventh-placed Crusaders, who were beaten at Glenavon on Tuesday night.

Loughgall, meanwhile, are six points adrift at the bottom of the table but irrespective of how Glenavon get on at Windsor Park, a win for the Villagers over struggling Ballymena United will move Dean Smith's side to within three points of Carrick Rangers.

Ballymena, after the remarkable eight-game winning run which moved them to the top of the table, have since lost six out of seven games and are now just clinging on to a top-six spot.

Needless to say, we'll have all the action in our text commentary so please stay with us.

Image source, Inpho

Live text commentary and in-play clips from Saturday's four Irish Premiership fixtures will appear here on Saturday 21 December from 14:00 GMT.