New Southampton manager Ivan Juric has promised fans "death metal" football as he aims to drag the Saints to safety.

Juric was instilled as Southampton's new boss last week in the wake of Russell Martin's dismissal.

The Croatian, who was sacked by Roma earlier this season, watched on from the stands during Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fulham.

Next up are West Ham on Boxing Day, as Juric makes his Premier League bow, and he has vowed to bring an all-action style of play to St Mary's.

"When I was young I liked death metal music a lot, and that's something I think my style of football is like," Juric said.

"Work hard, press hard, play good, be intense, all this stuff. I think (the players) can do it. They are young, they are positive, they want to work hard. It's not easy to change the style immediately, but we have to be clever."

Getting to work pic.twitter.com/dXDs8BsyCG

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 24, 2024

While Southampton have now made a managerial change, West Ham stood by Julen Lopetegui, who has been under pressure following a poor start to the season.

After a 1-1 draw with Brighton, West Ham are unbeaten in three matches heading into Thursday's clash.

Lopetegui, though, is dealing with several injuries, including the long-term absence of Michail Antonio, who underwent surgery after he was involved in a road traffic accident earlier in December.

Niclas Fullkrug, who West Ham signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has been unable to cement a starting spot due in part to injury, but Lopetegui is not wanting to put pressure on the Germany international.

"It's true we didn't have Fullkrug in his best way, and Danny Ings is doing well, so we can use Jarrod Bowen too, so we have different options [up front]," he said, via WHUFC.com.

"We have to try to take advantage of the best options that we understand in each match, in each moment, understanding that all of them have to be in the best way to help us a lot. Sometimes the timings didn't help us as Fullkrug was out for three-a-half-months and now he is back and ready to help us in the second half of the season.

"There is not only one rule in football. Sometimes he [Fullkrug] can start in the line-up for us and sometimes he can start on the bench. The more important thing is that all of the players need to be ready now to play a lot of matches in a row."

Lopetegui looks ahead to Southampton #TalkingPoint with @LycaMobileUK  pic.twitter.com/NE2SmvVSen

— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 23, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton - Tyler Dibling

One major positive from the first half of the season for Southampton has been the form of youngster Dibling, and Juric will be looking to get the best out of the winger after Martin introduced him into the side. 

Dibling has played 13 key passes in the league this term, with none of his team-mates managing more.

West Ham - Mohammed Kudus

Kudus has completed more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League this season (42). He has also been involved in four goals in his last six Premier League games (three goals, one assist), having failed to score or assist a goal in any of his first six appearances this term.

MATCH PREDICTION: WEST HAM WIN

Juric will be the fourth manager whose first Premier League match is on Boxing Day, with each of the previous three remaining unbeaten (Roberto Mancini 2-0 v Stoke in 2009, Mikel Arteta 1-1 v Bournemouth in 2019 and Lopetegui 2-1 v Everton in 2022).

However, West Ham are unbeaten in their last five away league games against Southampton, with each of their last three visits ending in a draw (W2).

Southampton have won just one of their last 11 Premier League games against West Ham (D3 L7), though that victory did come in a Boxing Day fixture (3-2 in 2021-22).

The Hammers are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W14 D6), since a 2-1 loss at Leicester in April 2015. Both of their such games in 2024 have finished 2-2 (v Sheffield United in January and Burnley in March).

Southampton have, though, lost just one of their last eight home league games played on Boxing Day (W5 D2), though that defeat did come in their last such match in the Premier League (1-3 v Brighton in 2022).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

West Ham - 43.1%

Southampton - 31.1%

Draw - 25.8%