Manchester United's 2-1 loss at Wolves on Tuesday night has taken their hopes of a top four finish out of their own hands.

United lost at Molineux for the second time in two-and-a-half weeks having gone down by the same scoreline in the FA Cup last month.

Scott McTominay had given the visitors the lead when his angled drive from the edge of the box found the bottom corner, only for Diogo Jota - who also scored in that cup game - to equalise.

Ashley Young was then sent off for two bookable offences in the second period, and Wolves won the game when Chris Smalling bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Leander Dendoncker.

The loss means that United miss the chance to leap above Arsenal and Tottenhaminto third place.

And what's more, there would now be nothing they could do to earn a top four finish if the North London pair won all of their remaining seven fixtures this season.

Here's how the run in looks for the top four contenders.

Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-0 on Monday

Current position: 3rd

Points: 63

Remaining fixtures: Everton (A), Watford (A), Crystal Palace (H), Wolves (A), Leicester City (A), Brighton (H), Burnley (A)

Recent form (last six games): Five wins, one draw - 16 points

Spurs lost late on at Anfield at the weekend

Current position: 4th

Points: 61

Remaining fixtures: Crystal Palace (H), Brighton (H), Huddersfield (H), Manchester City (A), West Ham (H), Bournemouth (A), Everton (H)

Recent form: One win, one draw, four losses - 4 points

United were poor at Wolves 

Current position: 5th

Points: 61

Remaining fixtures: West Ham (H), Everton (A), Manchester City (H), Chelsea (H), Huddersfield (A), Cardiff (H)

Recent form: Three wins, one draw, two defeats - 10 points

Current position: 6th

Points: 60

Remaining fixtures: Brighton (H), West Ham (H), Liverpool (A), Burnley (H), Manchester United (A), Watford (H), Leicester City (A)

Recent form: Four wins, one draw, one defeat - 13 points .

This article was originally published on Mirror Football