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Ranieri: Hull simply better than Leicester

Diomande gave Hull a first-half lead before Riyad Mahrez brought Leicester level with a penalty shortly after the second half resumed.

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Caretaker manager Mike Phelan hinted a takeover at Hull could be days away after kicking off the season with an unlikely victory over Premier League champions Leicester.

“The first games are always hard”.

“Sometimes you are a little lucky”, City’s new manager told reporters. “I’m very pleased about our first performance against a very good team”.

Leicester will bid to kick-start their title defence at home to Arsenal on Sunday (AEST).

While Jurgen Klopp would have also strenthen his squad with Sadio Mane, Joel Matip, Georgio Wijdaldum and he would be pushing up for Champions League spot for next season, in the next hand Antonio Conte also intensified with N’Golo Kante, a premier league victor and Batshuayi a quick striker.

After their victory, Hull’s interim coach Mike Phelan revealed how his side had opted to defend deeply and to force Leicester to play to the home side’s strengths, while captain Curtis Davies revealed how the newly promoted team sought to put the “onus” on Leicester.

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.

Hull’s Robert Snodgrass got a 57th-minute victor as Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester lacked the intensity of their last campaign while City got away with their lethargic display as Sunderland debutant Paddy McNair scored an 87th-minute own goal.

But the day’s spotlight was inevitably going to be trained on Guardiola, given his trophy-laden spells at Bayern and Barcelona, and his new club’s hunger for league success.

Guardiola’s debut began in ideal fashion when Raheem Sterling won a fourth-minute penalty after a foul by Patrick van Aanholt.

Jack Rodwell slipped a pass through the heart of the City defence to Defoe, who slotted past Caballero.

McNair handed City all three points, though, when the ball struck his head and flew into his own net following a deflected low cross by Jesus Navas.

Ross Barkley had earlier given new manager Ronald Koeman an ideal start to life at Goodison Park with a fifth-minute free kick.

Lloris limped off with a hamstring injury in the 36th minute.

But Lamela equalised in the 59th minute with a header from Kyle Walker’s cross.

“We made a big effort but it was individual effort, not like a team”, said Ranieri.

“We shall have to wait and see, but it might be a big week this week”, he said.

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In the midst of a managerial resignation in July, no summer signings, a rash of injuries that have left the club with only 13 first team players and a fan base that are fed up with current ownership, no one could have blamed the Tigers for a poor showing.

Mike Phelan deserves to be Hull City manager says Curtis Davies