“They played better”, Leicester coach Claudio Ranieri told Sky Sports.
Advertisement
But despite having almost all the possession, City laboured to make their superiority count and was pegged back in the 71st minute when Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe rifled home an equalizer.
He may not have shown the Citizens’ fans why for a consistent period of time and the same can be said of his spell at Valencia but inside that big, burly, frustrating striker is an exceptional player and a man who can score a boat-load of goals when conditions suit him.
Leicester’s stumble was followed by an equally gripping encounter at Eastlands, where new City manager Guardiola enjoyed some good fortune in his first Premier League match.
Please don’t get me wrong, one swallow does not make a summer, and I think there is in fact a danger that this superb result could counter-productively disguise some fairly fundamental issues within the club which must be addressed in the next few weeks.
Mahrez scored from the penalty spot two minutes into the second half after Tom Huddlestone had clipped Demarai Gray on the edge of the area, before Snodgrass slammed home the victor, providing some respite for Hull, who had only 13 fit senior players available. “The effort was awesome, but individual effort – not as a team”.
A Paddy McNair own goal in the 87th minute was enough for Pep and his boys.
Ross Barkley gave Everton its fifth-minute lead in Ronald Koeman’s first game in charge, but Erik Lamela headed a second-half equalizer for Spurs.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris limped off with a hamstring injury in the 35th minute.
Tottenham dominated after the break and got a deserved equaliser on the hour mark when Lamela turned in Kyle Walker’s cross.
Salomon Rondon’s 74th-minute header earned West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis a 1-0 victory at his former club Crystal Palace.
This proved to be a problem when the talismanic Jermaine Defoe slotted underneath Willy Caballero to peg them back in the second half.
Meanwhile, Swansea won 1-0 at promoted Burnley courtesy of an 82nd-minute strike by Leroy Fer.
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.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s free kick helped Stoke City to a 1-1 draw at promoted Middlesbrough after Alvaro Negredo’s debut opener.
Advertisement
Manchester United travel to Bournemouth and Liverpool head to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on Sunday (Monday NZT), while West Ham and Chelsea open their seasons at Stamford Bridge on Monday (Tuesday NZT).
