The Premier League was back with a bang – and an upset-as Leicester’s title defence got off to an embarrassing start as the champions crashed to 2-1 defeat at troubled Hull in the season opener game yesterday.
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Leicester equalized with a penalty converted by Riyad Mahrez nearly immediately after the re-start, but Snodgrass restored Hull’s lead for good in the 57th minute with a powerful low shot from inside the area.
Mahrez equalised from the penalty spot in the 47th minute after Tom Huddlestone clipped Demarai Gray from behind, although replays showed the foul occurred outside the box.
However, Robert Snodgrass scored the victor just 10 minutes later for Hull.
Leroy Fer scored a late victor as Swansea beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor and a header from West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon gave the visitors a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace. “It was fingers crossed to make sure we had enough players, but full credit to them”.
“Next week could be a big week because we still need to find players”.
Moyes’ former club Everton started life under Ronald Koeman by drawing with last season’s third place team Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park. We tried to do our best.
Hull, with Mike Phelan in the role of caretaker manager after Steve Bruce left in July, had been struggling in the run-up to Saturday’s match.
England midfielder Barkley provided Koeman with a ideal start to the season after floating in a fifth-minute free kick, which evaded everyone in the penalty area and beat Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris at the far post.
The visitors could have snatched a late victor when Everton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg denied new signing Vincent Janssen.
The Venezuelan, who had a fine chance saved by the diving Wayne Hennessey early in the first half, steered a glancing header from substitute James McClean’s free kick inside the bottom corner of the net in the 74th minute.
Those are the sorts of setbacks, however, which Leicester must overcome as champions this season, says Henry. “Against Manchester United, we played well as a team”.
Promoted Middlesbrough were denied victory in their first top-flight game since 2009 as a 67th-minute free-kick by Xherdan Shaqiri earned Stoke City a 1-1 draw.
The chances kept coming for the champions, who missed yet another chance two minutes before the break.
Fer grabbed the victor eight minutes from time, bundling the ball in from close range after Heaton had saved Fernando Llorente’s header.
“Today was a normal match, maybe a draw was normal but we lost it”.
Watford defender Ben Watson, on the pitch for 12 minutes as a substitute, was sent off for pulling back Southampton forward Shane Long 14 minutes from time and Redmond had a late effort ruled out for offside.
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Tomorrow, AFC Bournemouth will host Manchester United while Arsenal hosts Liverpool and Monday night sees Chelsea host West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
