Contrasting fortunes (Picture: EPA, Getty, AP)

Manchester United are officially the most under performing team in the Premier League, with a ‘bookies table’ showing the Red Devils should be top given their ‘easy’ start to the season.

Louis van Gaal’s side have registered just one win and two draws from their opening five games against Swansea, Burnley, Sunderland, QPR and Leicester – the most favourable start out of all 20 Premier League sides, according to bookmakers.

Simon Gleave, head of analysis at Infostrada Sports, has calculated what the table should look like based on the odds for each fixture, and it makes damning reading for United fans, who currently see their side lingering in 12th.



The 12-place difference between forecasts and reality is the biggest margin in the league, with Newcastle the second biggest let-downs sitting bottom of the table when odds show they should be tenth.


Chelsea have fully capitalised on their kind start – topping the table when they should be second – while Arsenal, Southampton, Swansea, West Ham and Aston Villa are also deemed to be overachieving.

However, the biggest surprise story is Leicester City, who were tipped to be rock bottom of the pile after opening fixtures against Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, Stoke and Manchester United, only to find themselves flying high in seventh after collecting an impressive eight points.

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(Picture: Twitter @SimonGleave)