Ivan Juric will step onto the touchline for the first time as Southampton manager on Boxing Day, as his new side host West Ham United in the Premier League.
The 49-year-old, who was sacked as Roma boss earlier this season, has succeeded Russell Martin in charge and faces the unenviable task of saving Saints from relegation. They already find themselves eight points behind 17th-placed Leicester City and will need a major revival for the new manager to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.
Julen Lopetegui is still holding on to his job West Ham coach after a difficult 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 decisive victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers was followed by respectable draws with Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion.
here 90 minutes Jurek Guide Southampton First time.
Southampton vs West Ham H2H record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Southampton |
West Ham |
|---|---|
|
Fulham 0-0 Southampton – 12/22/24 |
West Ham 1-1 Brighton – 12/21/24 |
|
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool – 12/18/24 |
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham – 12/16/24 |
|
Southampton 0-5 Tottenham – 12/15/24 |
West Ham 2-1 Wolves – 12/09/24 |
|
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton – 12/07/24 |
Leicester 3-1 West Ham – 12/03/24 |
|
Southampton 1-5 Chelsea – 12/04/24 |
West Ham 2-5 Arsenal – 30/11/24 |
|
nation |
TV Channel/Live Broadcast |
|---|---|
|
UK |
Amazon Prime |
|
US |
peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 6 Canada |
Juric will be without several key players for his first game in charge, with Gavin Bazuno, Juan Larios and Ross Stewart all long-term absences from Saints. Loanee Maxwel Cornet is also ineligible to face his parent club but has rarely been used this season.
Will Smallbone will almost certainly miss Boxing Day due to a hamstring injury that has kept him out since October. But he's getting close to making a comeback.
Southampton welcomed Aaron Ramsdale back into the starting lineup 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 expected lineup against West Ham (5-2-1-2): Ramsdell; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Walker-Peters; Downs, Aribo; Fernandez. Debling, Archer.
Michail Antonio could be out of action for at least a year after suffering a fracture in his lower leg following a car accident, with Lopetegui relying on Niklas Volkrug and Danny Ings in the absence of the Jamaican international.
Lucas Paqueta will miss Thursday's trip to the South Coast due to suspension. The Brazilian playmaker received his fifth yellow card in the match Premier League The season is over Saturday tied with Brighton 1-1.
Last weekend's top scorer Mohamed Kuddus is likely to move into central midfield given Paqueta's absence, with Crescencio Summerville filling in on the left side.
Expected lineup for West Ham vs. Southampton (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kellman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Kudos, Somerville; Krug is complete.
The first thing Jurick wants to accomplish at Saint Mary's is to make major improvements defensively. The Saints have conceded 36 goals in 17 league games, a record bettered only by Leicester City and Wolves.
Goal scoring was also a serious problem for the home side on Thursday. They have scored 11 league goals this season, drawing their last three Premier League matches. 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 strong chance of extending their unbeaten run to four games. However, the influence of the new sound at St Mary's could make life more challenging for the Irons, who have won just five games all season in the league.
