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Football London
Sport
Tom Clark

Sevilla vs West Ham predicted XI as Declan Rice starts and Alphonse Areola decision to make

David Moyes is expected to make changes to his side that put in an excellent, albeit fruitless, performance against Liverpool on the weekend with Declan Rice set to return to the side.

Rice missed out at Anfield after contracting a virus but the Hammers key midfielder is set for a return to the starting XI in Seville this evening.

Moyes was positive over Rice's availability for the last-16 clash with the manager saying: "He trained today for the first time. He did not train yesterday. He was very unwell but he is with us and if fit and available he will certainly play.," during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

Unfortunately the Hammers will be without Jarrod Bowen after the attacker limped off early in the second half against Liverpool. The England hopeful's injury is understood to not be a serious one but this match has come too soon for him.

The manager has a big call to make in goal with Alphonse Areola the regular Europa League goalkeeper but Lukasz Fabianski the club's undisputed No.1 this season. Fabianski has previously not traveled with West Ham in Europa bar the opening fixture, so his presence in Spain could indicate a start for the Pole.

In defence Moyes is likely to stick with the back four from Anfield with Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell in the full-back slots with Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson the starting centre-backs. Issa Diop has been in good form and could push Dawson for a start but is more likely to be on the bench once again.

Ahead of the back-four with Rice is set to be joined by regular partner Tomas Soucek with the Czech midfielder coping admirably with a head wound over the weekend.

Manuel Lanzini has been in fine form and will take on his regular No.10 role fresh from being named in the provisional Argentina squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Either side of the Argentinian, Pablo Fornals and Nikola Vlasic are likely to provide support to lone striker Michail Antonio.

West Ham predicted XI: Fabianski; Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Vlasic, Lanzini, Fornals; Antonio

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