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Premier League table based on betting: Final standings projected – Man City only fourth
MANCHESTER CITY are the reigning Premier League champions but Pep Guardiola’s side are far from the most popular side backed to lift the title this season, according to punters.
Manchester City stormed to the Premier League title last season, amassing an astounding 100 points and scoring 106 goals in the process.
Pep Guardiola’s side finished 19 points clear of Manchester United while Tottenham and Liverpool secured top four finishes and Champions League qualification.
However, City are not such an attractive proposition among fans betting on the title race this time around.
Ladbrokes have revealed how the final Premier League standings would look at the end of the 2018/19 season based on bets placed since the start of the campaign – and it’s not pretty reading for City fans.
With Man City boasting arguably the strongest squad in the top flight, many bookmakers installed the reigning champions as favourites to triumph once again this season.
But unattractive odds have undoubtedly deterred punters from backing the champions, with 42 per cent of all bets being place on Liverpool instead.
The Reds have started the campaign in fine form with four wins from four matches, conceding just one goal.
Such results have seen Jurgen Klopp’s side emerge as the most popular pick among punters, while the rest of the top four has an unfamiliar look.
There is not much support among fans for Chelsea, despite the Blues also enjoying a 100 per cent record under new manager Maurizio Sarri.
West Ham are yet to pick up a single point so far this campaign but are still the seventh-best backed team ahead of Wolves and Javi Gracia’s undefeated Watford outfit.
At the other end of the table, Southampton are the least popular pick while Huddersfield and Bournemouth are also set for the drop based on their support in the betting markets.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "City may be odds-on favourites to go all the way this year, but as far as the popularity charts are concerned, Pep's men will have to settle for a top four finish."