Newly promoted Hull City, already tipped to be relegated before a ball had even been kicked, faced last season’s glory boys, league champions Leicester City, and the underdogs won 2-1.
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The defeat at Hull makes Leicester the first Premier League champions to lose on the opening day of the season, as pointed out by Gary Lineker.
The Foxes started the second half on fire as Gray earned a penalty within 15 seconds of the restart and Riyad Mahrez stepped up to convert easily.
Riyad Mahrez gave Leicester hope when he cancelled out Adama Diomande’s opener, but Robert Snodgrass netted the victor to send the champions back home empty handed.
Snodgrass restored Hull’s lead in the 57th minute with a powerful low shot from inside the area.
Not quite. Leicester aren’t going to win the Premier League again.
The reigning Premier League champions had never before lost the opening match of their defence the following season, but Leicester showed few signs of maintaining that tradition as Jakupovic was only called into comfortable saves to deny Mahrez and Shinji Okazaki.
“At that point I think we got so nervous”.
Leicester City were out-of-sorts. He set his team out in a 4-1-4-1 formation that morphed into a 3-2-4-1 system when City had the ball; Fernandinho dropping back between the centre-backs from his holding role and full-backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy stepping up into central midfield.
Hull are without a permanent manager following Steve Bruce’s resignation last month and had just 13 senior players in their match-day squad.
Vardy was guilty of two disgusting first-half misses at Hull and – after the second of them – was caught on camera punching himself in the face with frustration, a clip that soon went viral.
“I’m very pleased about the performance”, said the manager. I’ve had the backing of the players.
The games between Middlesbrough – Stoke City, Everton – Tottenham, Southampton – Watford all finished 1-1.
Ross Barkley gave Everton, managed by new boss Ronald Koeman, a fifth-minute lead at Goodison Park with a free-kick that eluded everyone and curled into the net.
As the big teams lost their way, Claudio Ranieri got the basics right with unheralded Leicester and built a title-winning side with savvy recruitment, exemplary team spirit and a hungry collection of talented individuals.
Pep Guardiola begins his tenure as Manchester City manager in earnest later on Saturday, when Sunderland and their new manager David Moyes visit the Etihad Stadium.
Phelan’s judgement is that the club need at least six more signings before the transfer window closes to become more than a one-hit wonder this season.
Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion both secured 1-0 away victories against Burnley and Crystal Palace respectively.
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Their title triumph was built on a solid defence, an admirable team spirit, the industry of N’Golo Kante and the counter-attacking menace of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez while it also helped that they were underestimated by opponents.
