Ivan Juric will take to 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 manager earlier this term, has succeeded Russell Martin in the dugout and faces the unenviable task of saving the Saints from relegation. They already find themselves eight points behind 17th-placed Leicester City and will need a significant new manager bounce to keep slim hopes of survival alive.
Julen Lopetegui is still clinging to his job as 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 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers was followed by respectable draws with Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Here is 90min's guide to Juric's Southampton debut.
Southampton vs West Ham H2H Record (Last Five Games)
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 - 09/12/24
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton - 07/12/24 Leicester 3-1 West Ham - 03/12/24
Southampton 1-5 Chelsea - 04/12/24 West Ham 2-5 Arsenal - 30/11/24
Country TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom Amazon Prime
United States Peacock
Canada fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 6 Canada
Ivan Juric
Juric was in the stands during the goalless draw with Fulham / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
Juric will be without several first-teamers for his first match at the helm, 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 out on the Boxing Day fixture due to a hamstring injury that's ruled him out of action since October. He's nearing a return, though.
Southampton did welcome Aaron Ramsdale back to the starting XI 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 predicted lineup vs West Ham (5-2-1-2): Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Walker-Peters; Downes, Aribo; Fernandes; Dibling, Archer.
Lucas Paqueta, Mats Wieffer
Lucas Paqueta is suspended / Bryn Lennon/GettyImages
Michail Antonio could be sidelined for at least a year after suffering a lower leg fracture 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 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 filling in on the left-hand side.
West Ham predicted lineup vs Southampton (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Kudus, Summerville; Fullkrug.
The first thing that Juric will want to achieve at St Mary's is to make significant defensive improvements. The Saints have conceded 36 times in 17 matches in the league, a record only superior to Leicester City and Wolves.
Goalscoring has also been a serious issue for Thursday's hosts. They have scored a league-low 11 this term, drawing blanks 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 favourites against Southampton and have a strong chance to extend their unbeaten run to four games. However, the influence of a new voice at St Mary's may make life more challenging for the Irons, who have only won five games all term in the league.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 West Ham
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