Genk v West Ham predictions: Hammers should secure their Europa last-16 spot

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Genk v West Ham in the Uefa Europa League on Thursday

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 5.45pm Thursday

Best bet

West Ham
2pts Evs general

Team news

Genk
Daniel Munoz is suspended so Angelo Preciado is likely to get the chance to fill in at right-back.

West Ham
David Moyes has no fresh injury concerns so could keep faith with the team that beat Genk 3-0 a fortnight ago.

Match preview

A win in Belgium would guarantee West Ham a last-16 place in the Europa League and there seems every reason to believe that David Moyes can enjoy a victory in his 1,000th game in management.

These are heady times at the London Stadium with the Hammers fourth in the Premier League table and thoroughly enjoying a European campaign in which they have comfortably won all three of their matches without conceding.

They face Genk a fortnight after easing past the Belgians in London and the hosts have to be concerned that they have already lost at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb.

A degree of confidence should have been garnered from a 6-0 cup win over amateurs Sint Eloois Winkel and a 6-2 league success at Zulte Waregem but they should be under no illusions that a clash with the Hammers is a big step up in class.

Moyes has given little indication that he is taking the competition lightly and should still field a strong team at this stage as two further group games that could be dead rubbers would provide the chance to rest a few of his regulars.

But Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice were both on duty in the heart of midfield a fortnight ago and there were indications that those on the fringes were determined to take their chance.

It is the first time they have been in European competition since 2015, when Slaven Bilic gave lip-service to a qualifying game against Astra Giurgiu and paid the price.

With the euphoria among Irons followers showing no sign of easing, don't expect Moyes to make the same mistake now qualification is within their grasp.

Key stat

West Ham have conceded just one goal in their last five matches

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