Points for Guardiola, pain for Ranieri as EPL season starts

“Sometimes you are a little lucky”, City’s new manager told reporters.

Leicester City’s Premier League title defence got off to a dismal start as crisis-club Hull clinched a 2-1 win over the champions, while the Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City started with a dramatic 2-1 victory against Sunderland on Saturday’s opening day.

Riyad Mahrez scored a controversial penalty to level matters before Snodgrass’ victor.

“I told my players this season will be harder than last season”.

Everton and Spurs drew 1-1 at Goodison Park in Ronald Koeman’s first game in charge of the Toffees.

The Foxes, meantime, have recruited well in adding Ahmed Musa, Ron-Robert Zieler, Bartosz Kapustka and Nampalys Mendy from CSAKA Moscow, Hannover 96, Cracovia and OGC Nice respectively this summer and they have succeeded in retaining key forward players, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy.

Two other matches finished 1-1, with Nathan Redmond scoring an equalizer on his Southampton debut against a Watford side that finished with 10 men, while a free kick from Swiss playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri earned Stoke a point against promoted Middlesbrough.

England’s elite have spent big in the hope of usurping champions Leicester City and nowhere will the battle be more intense than between Manchester City manager Guardiola and his Manchester United counterpart Mourinho. “Our commitment was awesome but it was individual, not as a team”, Ranieri said. Today, a few teams played and there were a few surprises.

Leroy Fer scored Swansea’s late victor against Burnley and a header from West Brom’s Salomon Rondon gave the visitors their victory at Crystal Palace. Tomorrow, there will be three matches: Bournemouth – Manchester United, Chelsea – West Ham and Arsenal – Liverpool.

Midfield lynchpin N’Golo Kante and transfer mastermind Steve Walsh have both left, but the club have signed several new recruits and Ranieri is determined to ensure they do not fall off the map.

Former Italy manager Antonio Conte begins his Chelsea fix job at home to West Ham United on Monday.