The 2016/17 Premier league season began on Saturday afternoon as newly-promoted Hull City became the first team to beat the reigning champions on the opening day of the Premier League season.
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What the Chinese delegation thought of the pre-match demo Saturday is anybody’s guess, but they can not fail to have been impressed by the action on the pitch, watching Adama Diomande take the lead for Hull City just before the half time break. The goal was credited to Diomade but the hosts were pegged back two minutes after the break as Riyad Mahrez hammered home a penalty. Ten minutes later the score was settled with a goal by Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass.
Leicester will bid to kick-start their title defence at home to Arsenal on Saturday.
City looked a shadow of the side that won the title by ten points, but Ranieri said it was impossible to replicate the flawless season and said this was the reality for his side after the fairy-tale.
Manchester United managed the feat in the first ever Premier League season in 1992-93 having suffered early season losses to Sheffield United and Everton.
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy missed a series of chances in the first half.
England midfielder Ross Barkley provided Koeman with a flawless start to the season at Goodison Park after floating in a fifth-minute free kick which evaded everyone in the penalty area and beat Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at the far post.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris limped off with a hamstring injury in the 35th minute. “All we can do is encourage this group that are fit to play – whether that is 12 outfield players and six of the U21s – that is the way it is for now”.
“It was a hard match for us”, Leicester manager Ranieri said in his post-match press conference.
“I think if the player has a very good Champions League then maybe”.
“Hugo got injured and that had a big impact on us”.
“There’s a danger with Leicester that if you play high, they can hurt you behind”, added interim coach Mike Phelan.
West Bromwich Albion won 1-0 at Crystal Palace thanks to a goal from Salomon Rondon.
Etienne Capoue put Watford ahead in the ninth minute, but Nathan Redmond levelled in the 58th minute before Hornets midfielder Ben Watson was sent off.
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Xherdan Shaqiri’s free kick helped Stoke City to a 1-1 draw at promoted Middlesbrough after Alvaro Negredo’s debut opener.
