In the closest fought title race in years, there are four teams with a realistic chance of being crowned Premier League Champions come May with around 12 games to go.

Here, Sportsmail's finest assess the chances, heroes, villains and potential banana skins that will play a part in whether Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City are left as the last team standing...

CHELSEA by Neil Ashton

Why can they win the league?

Jose Mourinho, simple as that. He has the class, the charisma and the ability to turn the title race in Chelsea’s favour.

VIDEO: Scroll down to watch the top four managers giving their thoughts

 

 

Why won’t they?

Their failure to finish teams off. At times they lack the killer instinct. Draws with West Ham and West Brom are two recent examples.

Who will be their hero?

Eden Hazard. Chelsea fans have been transfixed by his mesmerising ability on the ball. Mourinho called it right, he’s the best player under 24 in world football.

 

 

Who will be their villain?

Mourinho, except he is a pantomime villain. He’s got Manuel Pellegrini right where he wants him and Manchester City’s manager doesn’t have the personality to regain the upper hand in the phoney war. Chelsea’s players are lapping it up.

What’s the run-in like and which game is their potential banana skin?

It is as if Mourinho put the fixture list together himself. Liverpool at Anfield on April 26 is the toughest of the last six games in the Premier League. Stoke, Swansea, Sunderland, Norwich and Cardiff are all straightforward.

RUN-IN — Feb 22: Everton (h). Mar 1: Fulham (a). Mar 8: Tottenham (h). Mar 15: Aston Villa (a). Mar 22: Arsenal (h). Mar 29: Crystal Palace (a).  Apr 5: Stoke (h). Apr 12: Swansea (a). Apr 19: Sunderland (h). Apr 26: Liverpool (a). May 3: Norwich (h). May 11: Cardiff (a).

ARSENAL by Sami Mokbel

Why can they win the league?

Arsene Wenger. He’s been there, seen it and done it at a domestic level. The talent is there, he just needs to convince his team they can go all the way.

 

 

Why won’t they?

The club’s failure to sign a new world-class striker in the previous two transfer windows could easily catch up with them in the run-in.

Who will be their hero?

Laurent Koscielny. An unsung hero, perhaps, but a hero nonetheless. His performances in the heart of Arsenal’s back four have been immense. They will need more of the same to stay in the race.

 

 

Who will be their villain?

Olivier Giroud. Has exceeded expectation with his goals so far this season, but is tiring under the workload of being the club’s main striker. He needs help. Can Nicklas Bendtner and Yaya Sanogo provide it? 

What’s the run-in like and which game is their potential banana skin?

Consecutive games against Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City at the end of next month will make or break their title challenge. Everton away, which follows, won’t be easy either.

RUN-IN — Feb 22: Sunderland (h). Mar 1: Stoke (a). Mar 8: Swansea (h). Mar 16: Tottenham (a). Mar 22:Chelsea (a). Mar 29: Man City (h).  Apr 5: Everton (a). Apr 12: West Ham (h). Apr 19: Hull (a). Apr 26: Newcastle (h). May 3: West Brom (h). May 11: Norwich (a).

MANCHESTER CITY by Ian Ladyman

Why can they win the league?

Because they have the most talented squad and the most potent attacking line-up. When City need goals to drag them through games they will not have to look far to find them.

 

 

Why won’t they?

Because they concede too many goals and their manager is beginning to be dragged into petty arguments with people like Jose Mourinho. They’re best avoided, Manuel.

Who will be their hero?

Yaya Toure. He has been round the block and delivers in big games. He may occasionally be prone to galloping off upfield without a care in the world, but more often than not he comes back with a goal in his pocket.

 

 

 

Who will be their villain?

Joe Hart. He probably has one more crucial mistake left in him this season. In the Premier League run-in, it is often mistakes — as much as moments of inspiration — that prove decisive.

What’s the run-in like and which game is their potential banana skin?

It doesn’t matter who they play, they can beat anyone. They may, however, end up with too many games. The exertion of their forthcoming double-header with Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16 could be particularly sapping on minds and bodies. 

RUN-IN — Feb 22: Stoke (h). Mar 8: Aston Villa (h).  Mar 15: Hull (a). Mar 22: Fulham (h). Mar 25: Man Utd (a). Mar 29: Arsenal (a). Apr 5: Southampton (h).  Apr 12: Liverpool (a). Apr 19: West Brom (h). Apr 26: Crystal Palace (a). May 3: Everton (a). May 11: West Ham (h). To be arranged: Sunderland (h).

LIVERPOOL by John Edwards

Why can they win the league?

Frightening firepower is dovetailing with supreme  self-belief, and that’s what you call a winning combination. No European distractions to worry about, either.

 

 

Why won’t they?

Manchester City are just as potent an attacking force. Also, if they do hit the front, how will they cope with being favourites? It’s a pressure they are unfamiliar with.

Who will be their hero?

Luis Suarez. Every defender’s worst nightmare. Some of his goals this season would sit very comfortably alongside anything Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi have produced.

 

 

Who will be their villain?

Kolo Toure. Stared accusingly at the pitch after slicing an attempted clearance into his own net at Fulham, but conveniently forgot he’s got form for that. Remember Villa Park, April 2003, Kolo? Arsenal were leading through Freddie Ljungberg when guess what? Toure sliced a clearance past his own keeper to make it 1-1.

What’s the run-in like  and which game is their potential banana skin?

Not bad at all. City, Chelsea and Tottenham are the tough ones, but they’re all at home. Sounds bizarre to describe Old Trafford as a possible banana skin, but Brendan Rodgers’s men will go there as firm favourites.

RUN-IN — Feb 23: Swansea (h). Mar 1: Southampton (a). Mar 10: Sunderland (h). Mar 16: Man Utd (a). Mar 22: Cardiff (a). Mar 30: Tottenham (h). Apr 5: West Ham (a). Apr 12: Man City (h). Apr 19: Norwich (a). Apr 26: Chelsea (h). May 3: Crystal Palace (a). May 11: Newcastle (h).