Premier League 2017/18: 5 biggest surprises of the season

As the 2017/18 Premier League draws to a close, the 26th edition of the English top-flight has had its fair share of thrills and spills. With Manchester City being crowned kings of England, as many predicted since early January, the title race was short on surprises.

The relegation dogfight continues, despite Stoke City's relegation to the Championship. West Brom snuck a late victory over Spurs to save themselves from the drop for another couple of days, as the Baggies could go down if the Swansea vs Southampton game in midweek has a winner.

With a fight for top four as well as relegation to be decided, the final week of the season promises to be captivating. We take a look at five of the biggest surprises of the Premier League season so far:

---

#5 Mohamed Salah's goalscoring form

Liverpool's Egyptian sensation, Mohamed Salah, joined the Merseyside club from AS Roma on a five-year deal worth €35 million before the start of the season. He has settled and adapted to life at Anfield superbly, notching more than 40 goals in all competitions this season.

An extremely quick and attacking player, Salah has broken many records and guided the club to a Champions League final during his first season at the club.

Salah has proved himself to be a great acquisition by Jurgen Klopp and is the front-runner for the Premier League’s Golden Boot and has already bagged the PFA Player of the Season and the FWA Player of the Season. He could even be in line for the Ballon d'Or if Liverpool beat Madrid in the final in Kiev.

Liverpool and Klopp's style of football has definitely helped Salah find his goals, playing the striker closer to goal. With 31 strikes in the league so far, the Egyptian's goals have helped the club in all competitions and been a real surprise in the world of football.

#4 The Alexis Sanchez - Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap deal

The two players in action for their new clubs

The January transfer window was an exciting one that also some heavy deals completed. Arguably the biggest surprise deal of the window was the exchange of Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Chilean left Arsenal for Manchester United as his Gunners contract was winding down while the Armenian joined the Gunners in a swap deal that swept the football world.

Jose Mourinho signed Sanchez and beat rival Pep Guardiola and Manchester City to land the player. In what the United boss described as a once-in-a-lifetime deal, Sanchez is a fine addition to the ranks at Old Trafford.

Mkhitaryan did not settle like he had hoped he would at United, with irregular game time and a style of play that just didn't suit the player. He has, however, settled into this Arsenal side and has been much more expressive on the ball with the North London club - a sign of better things to come.

#3 Crystal Palace survive the drop

Former England manager Roy Hodgson has guided Palace to safety

Crystal Palace lost their first seven games of the season and are the first team since the 1888/89 Liverpool side to survive the drop after having 0 points after 7 games of the season.

Frank de Boer was sacked after a dismal run of results and was replaced by former England manager Roy Hodgson. The Englishman has done a fantastic job at the club and has secured their status as a Premier League team with a comeback victory over Stoke City that also confirmed the Potters relegation.

With injuries plaguing the squad throughout the season, the experienced manager has handled expectations well and delivered.

Palace boasts a strong squad of talented players and with Hodgson's know-how and knowledge of the English game, the London side will be ready to build and rise up the ranks in the table next season.

#2 Burnley's Europa League qualification

Like his team, Burnley manager Sean Dyche has been sensational

The Premier Leauge's surprise package of the season Burnley have been in truly exceptional form this season under the guidance of Sean Dyche. Despite losing a large part of their core setup, Dyche rebuilt smartly and economically to replace the likes of Keane, Barton, Gray and the injured Heaton with the likes of Tarkowski, Long, and Wood.

The entire team, from goalkeeper Nick Pope to striker Ashley Barnes, and everybody in-between deserves credit for an outstanding season that has seen Burnley confirm a spot in the qualification rounds of the Europa League.

With a rock-solid defensive line combined with a potent attacking strike force, Burnley is a tough opposition against any side if they continue to put in displays like this. With Arsenal up next for the Clarets at home, a win over the Gunners will see them close the gap and be level on points but behind on goal difference.

#1 Arsene Wenger's Arsenal exit

Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal at the end of the season

A new style, vision, and approach were brought to the English top flight in 1996 by a Frenchman nicknamed the Professor. Wenger immediately crafted an Arsenal side that challenged for honours and won titles galore.

But in his final season at the club, the Frenchman will end this chapter of his career without a trophy. The news of his resignation was a surprise because of the timing of the statement from the club.

Days before the Europa League semi-final first leg, the news first broke and since then the decision has backfired in terms of creating positive energy around the club, as the club has failed to reach the final and lost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

The replacement manager is going to face a stern task to bring Arsenal back to their glory days when he succeeds Wenger. The mutual exit brings an end to an unbelievable 22-year spell as Gunners boss.