Leicester became the first reigning Premier League champions to lose their opening game as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Hull.
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Having upset the odds in such spectacular fashion last season, Leicester were themselves stunned again shortly before the hour mark when Hull regained the lead through Snodgrass, who buried his finish into the bottom corner after the visitors had failed to adequately clear their lines.
Diomande was awarded the goal, but Leicester were soon level through a soft penalty at the start of the second-half, which Riyad Mahrez coolly converted.
Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass (right) celebrates his match-winning goal against Leicester City.
It was the last action of the first half, but Leicester responded perfectly when Tom Huddlestone’s foul on Gray gifted the Foxes a penalty just 14 seconds after the restart.
Spurs were back level shortly after the break as Erik Lamela headed home a Kyle Walker cross and applied the late pressure as Stekelenburg palmed away a close-range shot from Janssen, saw Eriksen’s free-kick go onto the roof of his net and brilliantly tipped away a Lamela effort that deflected off Mason Holgate.
Schmeichel did well to deny Davies but the ball bounced up for both Diomande and Abel Hernandez to turn goalwards with acrobatic efforts.
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.
Leicester were sharper for the opening 30 minutes, but were unable to capitalise on the chances they created, with Jamie Vardy a particular culprit. As it stands, the Premier League already has a very busy schedule, being the only league that has games during Christmas and New Year’s, and anyone who competes in the Champions League knows how tough it is to balance the two. Lee Chung-yong sent Wilfried Zaha on a run down the middle but keeper Ben Foster blocked the ball at the striker’s feet and then saved his second effort from the rebound.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s free kick helped Stoke City to a 1-1 draw at promoted Middlesbrough after Alvaro Negredo’s debut opener.
It is the first time the Premier League champions have ever lost on the opening day of the following season.
Fer grabbed the victor eight minutes from time, bundling the ball in from close range after Heaton had saved Fernando Llorente’s header.
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Etienne Capoue put Watford ahead from Troy Deeney’s knock-down in the ninth minute, but Nathan Redmond volleyed home a 58th-minute leveller after a weak punch by Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
