The bookies' favourites to finish in the top four

With the season over a quarter of the way through the Premier League table is starting to take shape, with the battle for the Champions League places shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent years.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, last season's champions Manchester City lead the way in the division, sitting top with 32 points from 12 games and yet to have tasted a single defeat. Their dominance is reflected by the bookies, with many not offering a price on them finishing in the top four. Those that choose to do so aren't holding out much hope of a shock loss of form, with Bet365 listing them as 1/1000 to secure Champions League football next term.

The other two unbeaten sides in the English top flight are Liverpool and Chelsea, who currently sit second and third respectively. Again, they are being heavily backed to maintain their form, with the 'Reds' priced at 1/100 with 188Bet to claim a top-four spot come the season's end, with Maurizio Sarri's side also considered a shoo-in at 1/10 with some bookmakers.

Arsenal's impressive start to life under Unai Emery sees them sitting just three points outside of the final Champions League place, but the odds seem to suggest that it it is their bitter rivals Tottenham (who currently occupy fourth) who will claim the final place in Europe's premier club competition, with Mauricio Pochettino's side also listed as odds-on to finish in the top four, with Arsenal coming in at a best price of 2/1.

Manchester United's dismal start to the campaign hasn't gone unnoticed by the money men, with the 'Red Devils' currently sitting in eighth behind both Bournemouth and Watford following an inconsistent period of form. They have seven points and a significant goals difference disparity to make up to haul their way into the top four and the bookmakers don't appear to fancy their chances of doing so, with Jose Mourinho's side a best price of 9/2 to claim a top-four finish.

It would represent some fall from grace were United to fail to finish in the top four, having been City's closest challengers in the title race last term.

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