Ivan Jurić will step out on the touchline for the first time as Southampton manager on Boxing Day as they host West Ham United in the Premier League.
The 49-year-old, who was sacked as Roma manager earlier this term, succeeds Russell Martin in charge and faces the unenviable task of saving Saints from relegation. They already sit eight points behind 17th-placed Leicester City and will need a significant new managerial leap forward to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.
Julen Lopetegui is still sticking to his job West Ham manager after a challenging first half of the season in the capital, but the Irons are now 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 90 minutes a guide to the Jurićs 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 0-5 Tottenham – 15.12.24 |
West Ham 2-1 Wolves – 12.09.24 |
|
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton – 12.7.24 |
Leicester 3-1 West Ham – 12.3.24 |
|
Southampton 1-5 Chelsea – 12.4.24 |
West Ham 2-5 Arsenal – 30.11.24 |
|
Earth |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
Great Britain |
Amazon Prime |
|
United States |
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. On-loan Maxwel Cornet is also ineligible to face his parent club but has been used sparingly this season.
Will Smallbone is almost certain to miss the Boxing Day clash with a hamstring injury that has kept him out since October. He is getting closer to his return though.
Southampton welcomed Aaron Ramsdale back into the starting 11 at the weekend after six weeks on the sidelines. The goalkeeper helped his team keep a clean sheet in the away draw with Fulham.
Predicted line-up of Southampton 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 lower leg following a car accident, with Lopetegui relying on Niclas Fullkrug and Danny Ings in the Jamaica international’s absence.
Lucas Paqueta will miss the trip to the south coast on Thursday due to suspension. The Brazilian playmaker received his fifth yellow card Premier League season during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Brighton.
Last weekend’s goalscorer Mohammed Kudus is likely to move to center given Paquet’s absence, with Crysencio Summerville filling in on the left.
Predicted line-up of West Ham vs Southampton (4-2-3-1): Fabian; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Kudus, Summerville; Full circle.
The first thing Juric will want to achieve at St Mary’s is to make significant improvements in defence. The Saints have conceded 36 times in 17 league games, a record better than Leicester City and Wolves.
Scoring was also a serious problem for the hosts on Thursday. They have scored a league-lowest 11 this season, picking up clean sheets in their last three away games in the Premier League. Fortunately for them, West Ham’s defensive record leaves a lot to be desired.
West Ham will be marginal favorites against Southampton and have a great chance to extend their unbeaten run to four games. However, the influence of a new voice at St Mary’s could make life more challenging for the Irons, who have won just five games in the entire Championship.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 West Ham
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