2020–21 NIFL Premiership#UEFA Europa Conference League play-offs

The 38-game season commenced on 16 October 2020 and concluded on 29 May 2021, with the European play-offs then taking place on 1 and 5 June 2021. The fixtures were released on 19 September 2020.{{cite web|title=Irish Premiership: Linfield host Carrick Rangers on opening day as Irish League returns on 17 October|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/54203374|publisher=BBC|date=19 September 2020|access-date=22 September 2020}}

Linfield were the two-time defending champions, having been league winners in the previous two seasons - the curtailed 2019–20 season seeing them win a then world record-equalling 54th league title. This season Linfield won a third consecutive title, once again equalling the world record for the most top flight league titles in club football, drawing level with Rangers, who had just won their 55th Scottish title two months earlier. Linfield entered the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, while runners-up Coleraine and 3rd-placed Glentoran joined the European play-off winners, Larne, in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round.

There was no relegation from the Premiership this season, after a majority of NIFL Championship clubs voted to cancel their 2020–21 season, having not played any league fixtures since the 2019–20 season had initially been suspended in March 2020.{{cite news|title=NIFL Championship: 2020/2021 season declared null and void after clubs vote|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55895420|access-date=2 February 2021}} The second and third tiers had not been granted 'elite' sporting status by the IFA which was required in order to continue playing matches during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

{{Location map+ |UK Northern Ireland |float=right |width=325 |caption=Locations of the 2020–21 NIFL Premiership teams |places=

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |marksize=12 |lat=54.602945 |long=-5.891278 |label=Belfast |position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.87016 |long=-6.265211 |position=top|label=Ballymena United}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=55.13287 |long=-6.659904 |position=top|label=Coleraine}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.489581 |long=-6.745935 |position=top|label=Dungannon Swifts}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.453889 |long=-6.336389 |position=right|label=Glenavon}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.41306 |long=-6.457686 |position=bottom|label=Portadown}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.85013 |long=-5.827303 |position=top|label=Larne}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.71974 |long=-5.800309 |position=right|label=Carrick Rangers}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=54.11786 |long=-6.263430 |position=right|label=Warrenpoint Town}}

{{Location map~ |UK Northern Ireland |lat=55.32 |long=-8.2 |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |label=Belfast teams : Cliftonville
Crusaders
Glentoran
Linfield}}

}}

{{Location map+ |Greater Belfast |width=325 |float=right |caption=Locations of the Belfast-based 2020–21 NIFL Premiership teams |places=

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.619250 |long=-5.947383 |position=left|label=Cliftonville}}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.62428 |long=-5.922017 |position=top|label=Crusaders}}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.60270 |long=-5.893478 |position=right|label=Glentoran}}

{{Location map~ |Greater Belfast |lat=54.57083 |long=-5.963302 |position=bottom|label=Linfield}}

}}

Twelve teams competed in the 2020–21 NIFL Premiership, eleven of which had retained their Premiership status from the previous season. Last season's bottom Premiership club, Institute, were relegated to the NIFL Championship after two seasons in the top flight, and were replaced by Portadown, who were promoted to this season's Premiership as 2019–20 NIFL Championship winners.{{cite news|title=Irish Premiership: Linfield officially crowned 2019-20 league champions|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53185348|access-date=26 June 2020}} This marked Portadown's return to the top flight for the first time since the 2016–17 season.

The promotion/relegation play-off did not take place the previous season, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|source=[http://www.nifootballleague.com/premiership/2020-2021/standings/ Northern Ireland Football League]

|team_order=LIN,COL,GLT,LAR,CLF,CRU,GLA,BYM,POR,WPT,CRK,DUN

|split6=yes

|note_header_res=Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.

|result1=CL1Q |result2=ECL1Q |result3=ECL1Q |result4=ECLPO |result5=ECLPO |result6=ECLPO |result7=ECLPO

|update=complete

|win_BYM=18|draw_BYM=7 |loss_BYM=13|gf_BYM=67|ga_BYM=44

|win_CRK=5 |draw_CRK=8 |loss_CRK=25|gf_CRK=35|ga_CRK=92

|win_CLF=17|draw_CLF=9 |loss_CLF=12|gf_CLF=59|ga_CLF=42

|win_COL=21|draw_COL=10|loss_COL=7 |gf_COL=57|ga_COL=35

|win_CRU=16|draw_CRU=6 |loss_CRU=16|gf_CRU=62|ga_CRU=50

|win_DUN=4 |draw_DUN=5 |loss_DUN=29|gf_DUN=22|ga_DUN=83

|win_GLA=17|draw_GLA=11|loss_GLA=10|gf_GLA=72|ga_GLA=65

|win_GLT=20|draw_GLT=11|loss_GLT=7 |gf_GLT=65|ga_GLT=32

|win_LAR=18|draw_LAR=10|loss_LAR=10|gf_LAR=64|ga_LAR=41

|win_LIN=24|draw_LIN=6 |loss_LIN=8 |gf_LIN=83|ga_LIN=38

|win_POR=10|draw_POR=6 |loss_POR=22|gf_POR=50|ga_POR=78

|win_WPT=9 |draw_WPT=9 |loss_WPT=20|gf_WPT=38|ga_WPT=74

|status_LIN=C

|status_LAR=O

|name_BYM=Ballymena United

|name_CRK=Carrick Rangers

|name_CLF=Cliftonville

|name_COL=Coleraine

|name_CRU=Crusaders

|name_DUN=Dungannon Swifts

|name_GLA=Glenavon

|name_GLT=Glentoran

|name_LAR=Larne

|name_LIN=Linfield

|name_POR=Portadown

|name_WPT=Warrenpoint Town

|show_limit=5

|class_rules = 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Drawing of lots{{cite web|url=http://www.nifootballleague.com/media/4677/nifl-premiership-20-21-rules.pdf|title=NIFL Premiership Rules 2020–21|work=NIFL|access-date=23 March 2021}}

|res_col_header=QR

|col_CL1Q=green1 |text_CL1Q=Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round

|col_ECL1Q=yellow1|text_ECL1Q=Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round

|col_ECLPO=yellow2|text_ECLPO=Qualification for the Europa Conference League play-offs

|note_res_ECL1Q=Since 2020–21 Irish Cup winners Linfield qualified for the Champions League, the 3rd-placed team, Glentoran, also entered the Europa Conference League first qualifying round

|note_res_ECLPO=Larne qualified for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round as Europa Conference League play-off winners.

|hth_GLA=After 33 games, clubs in the bottom half of the table at the split cannot climb into the top half, regardless of the results during matches 34–38.

|hth_BYM=GLA

}}

During matches 1–22 each team played every other team twice (home and away).

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://www.nifootballleague.com/premiership/2020-2021/results/ Northern Ireland Football League]

| update = complete

| a_note = yes

| matches_style = FBR

|team_order=BYM,CRK,CLF,COL,CRU,DUN,GLA,GLT,LAR,LIN,POR,WPT

| name_BYM = Ballymena United

| name_CRK = Carrick Rangers

| name_CLF = Cliftonville

| name_COL = Coleraine

| name_CRU = Crusaders

| name_DUN = Dungannon Swifts

| name_GLA = Glenavon

| name_GLT = Glentoran

| name_LAR = Larne

| name_LIN = Linfield

| name_POR = Portadown

| name_WPT = Warrenpoint Town

| match_BYM_CRK = 2–0

| match_BYM_CLF = 1–1

| match_BYM_COL = 0–1

| match_BYM_CRU = 1–4

| match_BYM_DUN = 0–1

| match_BYM_GLA = 0–2

| match_BYM_GLT = 1–1

| match_BYM_LAR = 1–1

| match_BYM_LIN = 2–3

| match_BYM_POR = 2–1

| match_BYM_WPT = 2–0

| match_CRK_BYM = 0–2

| match_CRK_CLF = 0–1

| match_CRK_COL = 0–2

| match_CRK_CRU = 1–3

| match_CRK_DUN = 0–0

| match_CRK_GLA = 3–4

| match_CRK_GLT = 0–5

| match_CRK_LAR = 1–2

| match_CRK_LIN = 1–1

| match_CRK_POR = 4–1

| match_CRK_WPT = 1–3

| match_CLF_BYM = 0–4

| match_CLF_CRK = 3–0

| match_CLF_COL = 0–2

| match_CLF_CRU = 2–2

| match_CLF_DUN = 3–0

| match_CLF_GLA = 1–1

| match_CLF_GLT = 1–0

| match_CLF_LAR = 1–0

| match_CLF_LIN = 4–3

| match_CLF_POR = 5–0

| match_CLF_WPT = 3–0

| match_COL_BYM = 0–1

| match_COL_CRK = 3–0

| match_COL_CLF = 2–2

| match_COL_CRU = 2–1

| match_COL_DUN = 2–0

| match_COL_GLA = 0–0

| match_COL_GLT = 2–1

| match_COL_LAR = 0–2

| match_COL_LIN = 0–2

| match_COL_POR = 1–1

| match_COL_WPT = 2–1

| match_CRU_BYM = 2–1

| match_CRU_CRK = 1–3

| match_CRU_CLF = 1–0

| match_CRU_COL = 1–0

| match_CRU_DUN = 3–1

| match_CRU_GLA = 0–1

| match_CRU_GLT = 2–0

| match_CRU_LAR = 3–3

| match_CRU_LIN = 1–2

| match_CRU_POR = 5–0

| match_CRU_WPT = 4–0

| match_DUN_BYM = 1–5

| match_DUN_CRK = 0–2

| match_DUN_CLF = 2–1

| match_DUN_COL = 2–0

| match_DUN_CRU = 2–1

| match_DUN_GLA = 1–2

| match_DUN_GLT = 0–1

| match_DUN_LAR = 0–2

| match_DUN_LIN = 0–2

| match_DUN_POR = 0–3

| match_DUN_WPT = 0–2

| match_GLA_BYM = 2–1

| match_GLA_CRK = 1–1

| match_GLA_CLF = 1–1

| match_GLA_COL = 4–4

| match_GLA_CRU = 3–1

| match_GLA_DUN = 0–0

| match_GLA_GLT = 2–1

| match_GLA_LAR = 1–4

| match_GLA_LIN = 1–2

| match_GLA_POR = 2–4

| match_GLA_WPT = 1–0

| match_GLT_BYM = 0–2

| match_GLT_CRK = 6–0

| match_GLT_CLF = 1–0

| match_GLT_COL = 2–2

| match_GLT_CRU = 1–0

| match_GLT_DUN = 5–1

| match_GLT_GLA = 1–1

| match_GLT_LAR = 0–0

| match_GLT_LIN = 3–1

| match_GLT_POR = 2–1

| match_GLT_WPT = 0–0

| match_LAR_BYM = 2–0

| match_LAR_CRK = 3–0

| match_LAR_CLF = 1–0

| match_LAR_COL = 1–2

| match_LAR_CRU = 2–1

| match_LAR_DUN = 3–0

| match_LAR_GLA = 2–1

| match_LAR_GLT = 1–1

| match_LAR_LIN = 3–1

| match_LAR_POR = 2–2

| match_LAR_WPT = 1–1

| match_LIN_BYM = 2–1

| match_LIN_CRK = 5–1

| match_LIN_CLF = 2–0

| match_LIN_COL = 0–0

| match_LIN_CRU = 2–1

| match_LIN_DUN = 4–0

| match_LIN_GLA = 2–0

| match_LIN_GLT = 3–3

| match_LIN_LAR = 2–1

| match_LIN_POR = 3–0

| match_LIN_WPT = 6–0

| match_POR_BYM = 0–0

| match_POR_CRK = 2–0

| match_POR_CLF = 1–1

| match_POR_COL = 0–3

| match_POR_CRU = 2–2

| match_POR_DUN = 1–0

| match_POR_GLA = 4–1

| match_POR_GLT = 1–3

| match_POR_LAR = 1–2

| match_POR_LIN = 1–2

| match_POR_WPT = 0–2

| match_WPT_BYM = 1–1

| match_WPT_CRK = 0–0

| match_WPT_CLF = 0–5

| match_WPT_COL = 1–2

| match_WPT_CRU = 0–1

| match_WPT_DUN = 1–1

| match_WPT_GLA = 1–2

| match_WPT_GLT = 0–2

| match_WPT_LAR = 1–1

| match_WPT_LIN = 2–1

| match_WPT_POR = 1–1

}}

{{col-2}}

During matches 23–33 each team played every other team for the third time (either at home, or away).

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://www.nifootballleague.com/premiership/2020-2021/results/ Northern Ireland Football League]

| update = complete

| a_note = yes

| matches_style = FBR

|team_order=BYM,CRK,CLF,COL,CRU,DUN,GLA,GLT,LAR,LIN,POR,WPT

| name_BYM = Ballymena United

| name_CRK = Carrick Rangers

| name_CLF = Cliftonville

| name_COL = Coleraine

| name_CRU = Crusaders

| name_DUN = Dungannon Swifts

| name_GLA = Glenavon

| name_GLT = Glentoran

| name_LAR = Larne

| name_LIN = Linfield

| name_POR = Portadown

| name_WPT = Warrenpoint Town

| match_BYM_CRK = 2–0

| match_BYM_CLF = null

| match_BYM_COL = 1–2

| match_BYM_CRU = 0–1

| match_BYM_DUN = 5–1

| match_BYM_GLA = null

| match_BYM_GLT = 2–2

| match_BYM_LAR = null

| match_BYM_LIN = 2–1

| match_BYM_POR = null

| match_BYM_WPT = null

| match_CRK_BYM = null

| match_CRK_CLF = null

| match_CRK_COL = null

| match_CRK_CRU = 1–1

| match_CRK_DUN = 1–1

| match_CRK_GLA = null

| match_CRK_GLT = null

| match_CRK_LAR = 1–3

| match_CRK_LIN = null

| match_CRK_POR = 5–3

| match_CRK_WPT = 1–1

| match_CLF_BYM = 2–1

| match_CLF_CRK = 5–0

| match_CLF_COL = 2–1

| match_CLF_CRU = null

| match_CLF_DUN = null

| match_CLF_GLA = 2–1

| match_CLF_GLT = 0–2

| match_CLF_LAR = null

| match_CLF_LIN = null

| match_CLF_POR = null

| match_CLF_WPT = 3–0

| match_COL_BYM = null

| match_COL_CRK = 1–0

| match_COL_CLF = null

| match_COL_CRU = 2–0

| match_COL_DUN = null

| match_COL_GLA = null

| match_COL_GLT = 1–1

| match_COL_LAR = 2–0

| match_COL_LIN = null

| match_COL_POR = 2–0

| match_COL_WPT = 2–1

| match_CRU_BYM = null

| match_CRU_CRK = null

| match_CRU_CLF = 2–2

| match_CRU_COL = null

| match_CRU_DUN = null

| match_CRU_GLA = 6–1

| match_CRU_GLT = 1–0

| match_CRU_LAR = null

| match_CRU_LIN = 1–2

| match_CRU_POR = null

| match_CRU_WPT = 0–2

| match_DUN_BYM = null

| match_DUN_CRK = null

| match_DUN_CLF = 1–2

| match_DUN_COL = 2–3

| match_DUN_CRU = 0–2

| match_DUN_GLA = 0–4

| match_DUN_GLT = null

| match_DUN_LAR = null

| match_DUN_LIN = null

| match_DUN_POR = 0–1

| match_DUN_WPT = null

| match_GLA_BYM = 3–2

| match_GLA_CRK = 1–1

| match_GLA_CLF = null

| match_GLA_COL = 1–1

| match_GLA_CRU = null

| match_GLA_DUN = null

| match_GLA_GLT = null

| match_GLA_LAR = 2–2

| match_GLA_LIN = 3–2

| match_GLA_POR = null

| match_GLA_WPT = null

| match_GLT_BYM = null

| match_GLT_CRK = 2–0

| match_GLT_CLF = null

| match_GLT_COL = null

| match_GLT_CRU = null

| match_GLT_DUN = 2–0

| match_GLT_GLA = 3–1

| match_GLT_LAR = 3–2

| match_GLT_LIN =null

| match_GLT_POR = 4–0

| match_GLT_WPT = null

| match_LAR_BYM = 0–1

| match_LAR_CRK =null

| match_LAR_CLF = 0–0

| match_LAR_COL = null

| match_LAR_CRU = 0–3

| match_LAR_DUN = 3–0

| match_LAR_GLA = null

| match_LAR_GLT = null

| match_LAR_LIN = 1–1

| match_LAR_POR = null

| match_LAR_WPT = 5–0

| match_LIN_BYM = null

| match_LIN_CRK = 7–0

| match_LIN_CLF = 2–0

| match_LIN_COL = 2–1

| match_LIN_CRU = null

| match_LIN_DUN = 2–0

| match_LIN_GLA = null

| match_LIN_GLT = 0–1

| match_LIN_LAR = null

| match_LIN_POR = null

| match_LIN_WPT = 5–0

| match_POR_BYM = 1–2

| match_POR_CRK = null

| match_POR_CLF = 1–2

| match_POR_COL = null

| match_POR_CRU = 1–2

| match_POR_DUN = null

| match_POR_GLA = 1–2

| match_POR_GLT = null

| match_POR_LAR = 2–1

| match_POR_LIN = 0–1

| match_POR_WPT = null

| match_WPT_BYM = 2–2

| match_WPT_CRK = null

| match_WPT_CLF = null

| match_WPT_COL = null

| match_WPT_CRU = null

| match_WPT_DUN = 4–1

| match_WPT_GLA = 3–4

| match_WPT_GLT = 1–2

| match_WPT_LAR = null

| match_WPT_LIN = null

| match_WPT_POR = 1–3

}}

{{col-end}}