Claudio Ranieri feels Hull City was simply the better team in Saturday’s Premier League opener as Leicester City was beaten 2-1 and the Italian lamented his players for a lack of togetherness.
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Hull, without a manager after Steve Bruce left last month, won 2-1 thanks to goals from Adama Diomande and Robert Snodgrass as Leicester became the first reigning title-holder to be beaten on the opening day of an EPL title defence.
Diomande gave Hull a first-half lead before Riyad Mahrez brought Leicester level with a penalty shortly after the second half resumed.
Leicester equalised 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.
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.
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri insists that he is serious when saying that Premier League survival is the priority for his defending champions this season.
Chris Smalling is also banned after being sent off in the FA Cup final last season so summer signing Eric Bailly is set to make his competitive debut in the Premier League.
Lloris limped off with a hamstring injury in the 36th minute and his replacement Michel Vorm kept the visitors afloat with a fine save on the stroke of halftime, denying Gerard Deulofeu who was sent clear by an bad back pass from Danny Rose.
Guardiola’s tenure had lift off after four minutes when Sergio Aguero struck from the spot after Raheem Sterling was felled by Patrick van Aanholt.
But Lamela equalised in the 59th minute with a header from Kyle Walker’s cross.
But despite having almost all the possession, City labored to make their superiority count and was pegged back in the 71st minute when Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe rifled home an equalizer. Everton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg rescued his side in the closing stages when he thwarted livewire Lamela and substitute Vincent Janssen.
Salomon Rondon’s 74th-minute header earned West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis a 1-0 victory at his former club Crystal Palace.
An even first half nearly saw the deadlock broken but Scott Arfield cleared off the line as Federico Fernandez flicked an effort on goal, while in the second period Lukasz Fabianski was forced into a fine save.
Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw Watford as Nathan Redmond netted on his debut for the club.
The chances kept coming for the champions, who missed yet another chance two minutes before the break.
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