Manchester City's failure to beat Birmingham City saw William Hill shorten its odds on the Big Four of English soccer - Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal - finishing in the top four positions in the Premier League, but the bookmaker is still backing City to break the cartel.

It also has City as fourth favourites to win the Premier League title, behind Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal but ahead of Liverpool. City are at 12/1, some way clear of Liverpool, at 20/1. Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Fulham at the weekend, and have lost five of their 11 Premier League matches so far this season.

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"We still believe it is more likely than not that at least one side - probably City - will break the Big Four stranglehold on the top four places," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.