Premier League Betting Odds: Manchester United 7/2 for top four finish after derby defeat

An international break is an ideal intermission for Premier League sides to take stock of their performances thus far.

That will be a painful experience for Manchester United, whose derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium was their fourth loss of a campaign that is just 12 games old.

It's the first time since 1990-91 that the club have lost four of their first dozen top-flight games in a season.

The 200/1 (201.0) about United winning the title seems trivial, even at this early stage but more worryingly Jose Mourinho's men are in danger of missing out on a top four spot.

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Tottenham currently occupy fourth place with United four places and seven points adrift of Maurico Pochettino's side. Closing such a gap is an achievable task of course, especially with 26 matches still to play but the Red Devils' inconsistent performances are a huge cause for concern.

bet365 are 1/5 (1.20) that the team who finished second in the table last season end the current campaign outside the Champions League qualification places.

For a club of Manchester United's stature, missing out on a spot in Europe's premier club competition would be a big blow, especially having invested heavily in their squad in recent years - despite Mourinho's protests this summer.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, United have gone on to finish 7th, 4th, 5th and 6th in the top-flight before being runners up behind their city rivals last term.

Goal

In 2017 the club were able to secure their spot by winning the Europa League and European success would be another route back into the competition. It's 33/1 (34.0) that Mourinho's men win this season's Champions League after a late comeback at Juventus moved them significantly closer to the knockout stages.

The current odds suggest United are still far more likely to make the Champions League via a top four finish domestically, but at 7/2 (4.50) with bet365 that's rated as around a 22 per cent chance of happening at the time of writing.

Watford and Bournemouth both sit above United on goal difference after 12 games and are 100/1 (101.0) apiece in the top four finish market with the same firm.

Arsenal are the other "big six" team fancied to miss out on the Champions League. The Gunners are 8/15 (1.53) to finish fifth or lower for the third consecutive season after salvaging a 1-1 draw against Wolves.

Get the latest Premier League odds at bet365