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City 9-1 to miss Europe's elite next season

PREMIER LEAGUE champions Manchester City look set to miss out on retaining the title but they need to make sure a poor season does not turn into a terrible one, which means guaranteeing a spot in the Champions League.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are only four points above fast-finishing fifth-placed Liverpool so there is little time to sulk after exiting the Champions League at Barcelona on Wednesday, with a must-win fixture against West Brom at the Etihad on Saturday.

City, who had been trading at 200-1 to miss out on the top four over Christmas, are now 9-1 to finish outside of the Champions League qualification places and bet365 have opened a market on the champions’ finishing position.

Second remains odds-on at 10-11 with third at 7-2 – the same price as a fourth-placed finish which would mean having to go through a Champions League playoff to make the group stage.

City, who will be missing Yaya Toure because of injury against Albion, are 25-1 to end up fifth and 33-1 to finish sixth or lower.

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