Granted, the Premier League in arguably the most competitive League in Europe, but, it isn't immune to surprising scorelines and upsets results. Despite the fact that the lesser known clubs often break their transfer records, there is an obvious difference between the top clubs and the mid-table dwellers.
The pressure on the teams deemed as favourites is massive and we’ve seen sides with even world-class players buckle under the expectations. This season, however, we’ve experienced games that ended with scorelines which truly left us flabbergasted.
Here are five games this season that produced unexpected scorelines and results:
#5 Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea (September 24, 2016)
Video credit: Wachira Maker
There was quite a buzz when Chelsea announced Antonio Conte was to take over the Chelsea reigns after the Euros and naturally so. The Italian had one hell of a CV and was expected to take the Premier League by storm.
Conte's side had a decent enough start and picked up 10 points from 15 in the opening five games. Their game against Arsenal was a big test after their lacklustre defeat against Liverpool. The fans and the pundits expected a better Chelsea unit to turn out at the Emirates but what they instead got was a team who simply weren't up for the game.
The Blues conceded twice within 15 minutes and looked sloppy on the pitch. The hopes of a fightback in the second half was diminished when Mesut Ozil scored a third for the Gunners in the 40th minute. For a Chelsea side, going down by three goals in 45 minutes is never acceptable, let alone fathomable.
Although Chelsea lost the game, it ultimately forced Conte to rethink his setup. The Londoners went with a three at the back setup and the rest, as they say, is history. An Arsenal win over Chelsea isn’t really a big surprise, but the way Chelsea bottled simple passes and failed to clear their lines was amateur-hour.
#4 Chelsea 4-0 Manchester United (October 23, 2016)
Chelsea were picking up the pace and prior to the home clash against Manchester United, they were just a point behind League leaders at the time, Manchester City. A game against Manchester United, managed by ex-Blues gaffer Jose Mourinho, was deemed as a fixture where they had to make a statement, and they did.
The home side took the lead within a minute and that pretty much set the tone for the game. It was surprising that a side led by the pragmatic Mourinho ended up collapsing after conceding seconds following the kickoff.
Chelsea ended up with four different goalscorers and N'Golo Kante's mazy run past a tired Manchester United defence perhaps summed up the game. A 4-0 hammering was least expected at the start.
Credit to United though as they went on a long unbeaten run, though it was littered with draws, after the surprisingly one-sided contest at Stamford Bridge.
#3 Everton 4-0 Manchester City (January 15, 2017)
How much can go wrong when you're being managed by Pep Guardiola and taking on a side who’ve fielded youngsters in the defence and in midfield? Just ask the Manchester City fans.
Pep wouldn't have underestimated the competitiveness of the Premier League, but a 0-4 loss to Everton despite playing a strong team? Absurd.
Everton were up for the game from the word go, Manchester City, sadly, weren't. So bad was the Sky Blues' defence that they allowed a teenager, Tom Davies, slalom his way past the defence and chip the onrushing Claudio Bravo. A watershed moment for the young midfielder, a sombre one for the City faithful.
#2 Hull City 2-0 Liverpool (February 4, 2017)
Ah, Liverpool. The side who turn up against the bigger boys but can't buy a good performance against the lower sides. Though there was a clear pattern in their results, a fixture against lowly Hull City, who were 19th at the time, was deemed pretty straight forward.
Simple it may seem, there's nothing guaranteed when Liverpool are playing. In what was an abject performance by the Reds, Jurgen Klopp's side were beaten by two goals.
Oumar Niasse added salt to the wounds as he was on-loan from Everton. Though Liverpool recovered from the defeat, you wonder if they could have given Chelsea and Tottenham some competition had they avoided upsets like the one against Hull City.
#1 Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal (April 10, 2017)
Video credit: Everyday Football
Arsenal have had a strange season. Despite some ridiculous performances, they are still in the hunt for a top-four finish, which sums up the roller-coaster of emotions their fans go through.
A clash against struggling Crystal Palace, following a comfortable win against West Ham United, was expected to be a walk in the park. Well, at least on paper, considering Palace were beaten comfortably by Southampton in the previous game.
In the end, it turned out to be a chastening experience for the travelling Arsenal fans and the Gooners watching around the world as their side capitulated and were three goals down with more than 20 minutes to go.
Arsenal were on the receiving end of some brilliant counter-attacking play, but let's be honest, no one expected a hiding from a side who were in the relegation places for quite a while.
