We're underway at Solitude as the Irish Cup and Irish Premiership champions lock horns under the lights.

Three cars have been destroyed in an arson attack at Inver Park, the home ground of Larne Football Club.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene just after 01:00 BST.

Police were advised the fire was believed to have been started deliberately.

It caused significant damage to three vehicles in the club's car park.

It is understood the cars belong to staff members at Larne FC.

The PSNI is appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

BBC iPlayer

Our live coverage of the game at Solitude has just started on BBC iPlayer. You can also watch here by clicking the play button at the top of the screen.

Champions Larne move up to eighth in the Irish Premiership table after goals from Benji Magee and Andy Ryan saw them win 2-0 at home to Loughgall on Tuesday night.

Read more here.

Cliftonville assistant boss Gerard Lyttle says Larne are the club the Reds must aim to emulate as they prepare to host the Irish Premiership champions at Solitude.

The game will be Larne's last contest before they begin their Uefa Conference League campaign in Norway against Molde next Thursday.

"You’ve got to credit Larne for what they’ve achieved. It has been unbelievable and great for the league," said Lyttle, who is manager Jim Magilton's right-hand man.

Larne's achievement in becoming the first Northern Ireland club to reach the league or group stages of a European competition has meant a fixtures backlog in the early part of their attempt to earn a third successive Irish Premiership title.

Lyttle joked that he has "absolutely" no sympathy for Larne's predicament but made clear his regard for the feat achieved by Tiernan Lynch's side.

"I’m quite envious of them in terms of where they are.

"It’s something that we as a club and coaching staff and players look to see if we can keep doing what we’re doing, hopefully one day we can get to the great heights of where Larne are."

Read more from Lyttle and Reds midfielder Rory Hale, here.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Colin Coates
Ballymena United defender and former Crusaders captain

This is a game I’m really looking forward too. Two good sides who like to get the ball down and pass it about and on the 4G at Solitude should make for a good game of football.

It’s two teams who are still searching for their top form at this early stage of the season. It’s a big game from the point of view that if either team can go and get the victory, the confidence that will give them moving forward in the future games.

So I’m expecting a really tight cagey affair, as these games tend to be between two of last season's top three.

I’m hoping for a good game of football, I don’t think we’ll get plenty of goals though I’m hoping for it, but it should be a good game for the neutral to tune into.

There are some good players on show, particularly Ronan Doherty for Cliftonville.

I think he’s always worth the entrance fee and technically he’s a very very talented footballer.

On the Larne side of it, they’re littered with top quality.

I’m looking forward to seeing Matty Lusty in action after his good start to the season.

He’s had a couple of loan spells recently over the last couple of years at Dungannon and he’s really kicked on. With Lee Bonis moving on, is he going to be the man for Larne to step up and fill those big boots."

Join Thomas Kane with Colin Coates on co-commentary for Cliftonville versus Larne live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 19:30 BST.

Image source, BBC Sport

Cliftonville have just one win over Larne in the last eight head-to-head meetings between the two sides, with tonight's visitors winning six of those previous meetings.

The last time the Reds defeated Tiernan Lynch's side was in the semi-final of the Irish Cup in March. Cliftonville can go joint top with a win, with Larne jumping to third with a victory under the Solitude lights tonight.

In terms of team news, Jim Magilton makes three changes to his side that was defeated 3-2 at the Ballymena Showgrounds last time out. In come Ryan Curran, Rory Donnelly and Shaun Leppard, with Luke Conlan, Joe Gormley and Taylor Steven missing out.

Tiernan Lynch makes four changes of his own, with Sean Graham, Ryan Nolan, Dylan Sloan and Matthew Lusty handed starts in place of Joshua Seary, George Marsh, Joe Thomson and Benji Magee.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis (c), Newberry, Kearney, Curran, Donnelly, Leppard, Lowe, Doherty, Piesold, Glynn.

Subs: Ridd, Stewart, Pettifer, Hale, Gormley, Markey, Steven.

Larne: Ferguson, Want, Ives, Graham, Nolan, Todd, Cosgrove (c), Sloan, Gallagher, Ryan, Lusty.

Subs: Besant, Donnelly, Thomson, O'Neill, Magee, McEneff, Seary.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ballymena United made it five Irish Premiership wins in a row after they beat Cliftonville 3-2 in an entertaining game at the Showgrounds.

Cliftonville v Larne - Friday 19:45 BST (watch live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website)

This is a massive game for both sides. Larne started the season slowly, but victory here for will see them level on points with the Reds with two games in hand. For two teams who expect to be in the title mix, it’s a huge early-season game and Cliftonville really cannot afford to lose it.

Prediction – 2-2

Coleraine v Linfield - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Another big game for both sides. Linfield have had a bit of a stutter, but they got back to winning ways last weekend. It’s a massive challenge for Coleraine and one that they must stand up to.

The pressure is on the hosts having gone full-time, but they’ve often made it difficult for the Blues at the Showgrounds. Linfield will not be over-confident, but I expect them to scrape a victory.

Prediction – 1-2

Dungannon Swifts v Carrick Rangers - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Dungannon are flying at the minute. They’ve lost just one of their last five and they’re in the top four for the first time in a long time. It’s been a difficult season for Carrick, and it’ll be a big challenge for them, but it’s time for the more established players at the club to stand up and be counted.

Prediction – 3-1

Glentoran v Glenavon -Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Glenavon have stabilised somewhat over the past few games, winning one and drawing three.

Glentoran have lost three of their last four, but no-one seems to know what to expect from them in recent weeks.

Prediction – 2-0

Loughgall v Crusaders - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Dean Smith’s side are having a bit of second season syndrome, losing four of their last five.

As for Crusaders, they started well and then the wheels fell off as they’ve lost their last three. That said, I think Declan Caddell’s side will get back to winning ways at Lakeview Park.

Prediction – 0-2

Portadown v Ballymena United - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Portadown have started the season really well and are unbeaten in five. However, they’re coming up against the in-form team in the league in Ballymena, who have won their last five.

The Ports are a challenge for anyone at the moment and it’ll be another test for Ballymena but I think they’ll get over the line again.

Prediction – 2-3

Image source, BBC Sport

Larne assistant Gary Haveron believes Inver Park boss Tiernan Lynch wants to continue the job of turning the club into "something very special" despite links to the vacant position at St Johnstone.

The Scottish Premiership side have been searching for a new boss after Craig Levein was sacked five games into the campaign last week with former Northern Ireland striker Andy Kirk presently in interim charge.

Lynch has been reported to be in the frame for the permanent job at the Perth club, and Haveron said of the St Johnstone links: "I can't say I'm surprised. My only surprise is that he's not linked with more clubs.

"What he has done at this football club and what he does on a daily basis is phenomenal. He's a great manager."

But former Carrick and Glens boss Haveron added that he does not think Lynch is finished with Larne "by any stretch".

"I've been lucky to work with some great managers and he's right up there at the very top," he said.

"He's relentless in his pursuit of getting this club where we are and that's had a lot to do with him.

"Yes, he's had the backing of the owner, but he's had the vision and the drive to take us to where we are now and I don't think he's finished by any stretch.

"I think he wants to continue to make this club into something very special."

Image source, Press Eye

Here is how the table is looking ahead of this weekend's games.

Image source, Pacemaker

Good evening and welcome to our coverage of tonight's Irish Premiership encounter between Cliftonville and Larne at Solitude.

The game will be live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Cliftonville come into the game looking to make amends for a poor display last weekend as they fell 3-2 to in-form Ballymena United at the Showgrounds.

They host a Larne side who have started to pick up momentum after a rocky start to the season. They come into the game having beaten Loughgall on Tuesday night.

Both sides will want to close the gap on leaders Linfield with a victory ahead of the Blues' game tomorrow away to Coleraine, so it promises to be an entertaining one.

We will have live text commentary, in-play clips, a report and reaction to come.

Thanks for joining us - enjoy!

Image source, Pacemaker Press