Selecting the elite group from which the 2012 English champion will come is easy: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Picking the winner from the four-horse race is less straightforward, but Premier League history dictates the team — if any — that finishes above Sir Alex Ferguson's serial title winners will lift the trophy.
United remains the yardstick for the chasing pack. It won its 19th title last May despite dropping 32 points on its travels, but it was still too good for the rest who will look back on a wasted opportunity.