Ivan Juric will take to the touchline for the first time as Southampton manager on Christmas Day as they host West Ham United in the Premier League.
The 49-year-old, who was sacked as Roma manager earlier this term, has succeeded Russell Martin in the dugout and faces the unenviable task of saving Saints from relegation. They are already eight points behind 17th-placed Leicester City and will need a major new manager to keep their survival hopes alive.
Julen Lopetegui is still clinging to his job as West Ham coach after a challenging first half of the season in the capital, but the Irons are already unbeaten in three games and eight points clear of the relegation zone. A crucial win over Wolverhampton Wanderers was followed by respectable draws with Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion.
here it is 90 minutes Juric’s guide Southampton debut
Southampton vs West Ham H2H Record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Southampton |
West Ham |
|---|---|
|
Fulham 0-0 Southampton – 22/12/24 |
West Ham 1-1 Brighton – 21/12/24 |
|
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool – 18/12/24 |
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham – 16/12/24 |
|
Southampton – Tottenham 0-5 – 15/12/24 |
West Ham 2-1 Wolves – 24/09/12 |
|
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton – 07/12/24 |
Leicester – West Ham 3-1 – 03/12/24 |
|
Southampton 1-5 Chelsea – 04/12/24 |
West Ham 2-5 Arsenal – 30/11/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Amazon Prime |
|
united states |
royal peacock |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 6 Canada |
Juric will be without several first-team players for his first game in charge, with long-term absentees Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios and Ross Stewart still unavailable for the Saints. Loanee Maxwel Cornet is also ineligible to face his parent club but has rarely been used this season.
Will Smallbone is almost certain to miss the Boxing Day game with a hamstring injury that has ruled him out since October. It’s about to come back, though.
Southampton welcomed Aaron Ramsdale back into the starting eleven at the weekend after six weeks out of action. The goalkeeper helped his side keep a clean sheet in the draw with Fulham on the road.
Southampton’s predicted line-up against West Ham (5-2-1-2): Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Walker-Peters; Downes, Aribo; Fernandes; Dibling, Archer.
Michail Antonio could be out for at least a year after suffering a broken leg following a car crash, with Lopetegui relying on Niclas Fullkrug and Danny Ings in the Jamaican international’s absence.
Lucas Paqueta will miss Thursday’s trip to the south coast through suspension. The Brazilian playmaker picked up his fifth yellow card of the match Premier League season during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton.
Last weekend’s goalscorer Mohammed Kudus is likely to move centrally given Paqueta’s absence, with Crysencio Summerville deputizing on the left.
West Ham’s predicted line-up against Southampton (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Kudus, Summerville; Complete Krug.
The first thing Juric will want to achieve at St Mary’s is to make major defensive improvements. The Saints have conceded 36 times in 17 league games, a record only surpassed by Leicester City and Wolves.
The goal has also been a serious problem for the hosts on Thursday. They have scored 11 in La Liga this season, keeping clean sheets in their last three Premier League outings. Fortunately for them, West Ham’s defensive record leaves a lot to be desired.
West Ham will be marginal favorites against Southampton and will have a great chance to extend their unbeaten run to four games. However, the influence of a new voice at St Mary’s may make life more difficult for the Irons, who have won just five games this season in the league.
