The Foxes became the first defending Premier League title-holders to lose on the opening day as they fell to a deserved defeat against newly-promoted Hull.
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In stoppage time at the end of an evenly contested first half, Adama Diomande acrobatically gave Hull the lead, as the 26-year-old Norwegian internationalist striker marked his Premier League debut with a goal.
Leicester equalized with a penalty nearly immediately after the re-start, Riyad Mahrez driving home the spot-kick.
But 10 minutes later Hull secured victory when Danny Simpson could only partially clear Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross and Snodgrass thrashed the loose ball home.
On an opening day which saw five managers take charge of their first competitive game at their new club, and there were contrasting starts for Pep Guardiola and David Moyes as pre-season title favourites Manchester City struck late to beat plucky Sunderland.
But instead of making a stylish debut against modest opposition, Guardiola’s team needed an 87th minute own-goal by luckless Sunderland defender Paddy McNair to start with a win. “And I think this is the key of the match”.
“My job is to enjoy my weekend – you don’t get many chances to do that in the Premier League – and start again Monday”.
Meanwhile, Erik Lamela equalised to earn Tottenham – last season’s third-place team – a 1-1 draw at Everton. There were 1-1 draws too for Southampton against Watford, and Stoke at newly-promoted Middlesbrough, along with 1-0 wins for Swansea against Burnley and West Bromwich Albion at Crystal Palace.
“There has to be new players coming into a football club”, Phelan told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek.
“Hugo got injured and that had a big impact on us”.
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.
Last season, Leicester did that better than any other team, however the Foxes produced an entirely unimpressive performance at the KCOM Stadium, whereby as well as being defensively vulnerable, they were guilty of wasteful finishing.
“The first half was hard for us and we did not play well”, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “In the second half we played as we usually play”.
City showed plenty of control in possession but they were punished for lacking thrust when Jack Rodwell – formerly of the Etihad Stadium club – fed Jermain Defoe who fired past Willy Caballero, the deputy for the dropped Joe Hart.
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The Tigers conjured the unlikeliest of 2-1 victories over champions Leicester in the first match of the Premier League season, to a background of fan protests, injury problems and Steve Bruce’s departure.
