The current Premier League table will make for painful reading for Manchester United fans as we enter yet another spate of fixtures in a typically-hectic Christmas schedule. Defeat to Everton on Wednesday left the defending English champions ninth in the table and 12 points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal - perhaps more ominously, they're the same number of points off the relegation zone. Fans knew there would likely be a transitional period when Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down over the summer to be replaced by David Moyes, but many wouldn't have imagined they'd be down to mid-table by December. These are indeed worrying times for the Red Devils - out of the title race, say some, the end of a dynasty, warn others. Indeed, even the most cursory of glances at the league table tells us qualifying for next season's Champions League is a more realistic target for United this season than retaining their title. But, such is the current state of affairs at Old Trafford, there is even a concern the Red Devils won't finish in the top four of the table, and we tend to agree. Here, we take a look at 5 Reasons Why United Won't Finish In The Top Four.