Upset for Leicester, Tottenham draws as EPL season starts

HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Ahmed Musa of Leicester City takes the ball past Adama Diomande of Hull City during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England.

Manchester City welcomed Sunderland to the Etihad in what was the beginning of both Pep Guardiola’s and David Moyes’ reigns at their new clubs.

Aug 13 Leicester City became the first Premier League champions to begin their title defence with a defeat when they slumped to a shock 2-1 reverse at injury-ravaged Hull City on Saturday.

Sergio Aguero’s early penalty for City was erased by Jermain Defoe’s second-half equaliser before an 87th minute own goal from debutant Paddy McNair gifted the points to Guardiola’s side despite their inconsistent display.

The most glaring concern is that Leicester already look rattled under the pressure as defending champions and their best first team is still yet to truly emerge after a summer of signings.

The Spaniard signaled the changes with his very first starting lineup. England goalkeeper Joe Hart was dropped in favor of Willy Caballero and there were debuts for defender John Stones after his 47.5 million pound ($62 million) move from Everton and Spain forward Nolito.

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. “We were constant and we deserved the victory”.

Leicester City proved a year ago that they knew how to play their game of attacking front foot football, but the loss of N’Golo Kante looked more obvious Saturday than it did all of preseason as he was the pace setter for the side last season in the middle of the park. We spoke many times what we should do like a team, this is just the first step.

“The first half was hard for us and we didn’t play well”, said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Just three months after their astonishing title triumph, Claudio Ranieri’s side were undone by a team whose preparations for the new campaign were marred by the resignation of manager Steve Bruce and their failure to sign a single player.

Along with the missed opportunities, Ranieri said a lack of teamwork meant his team was second-best on the day. “Last season we showed ourselves as a very good team and we need to repeat that”.

Philip said: “Unbelievable. I don’t think anyone saw this coming”.

Having defied odds of 5,000-1 to win the league last season, the tables were turned on Leicester as the surprise champions lost to a club that was struggling with pre-season injuries and protests by fans against the owners.

Noticeably less vibrant without N’Golo Kante, the France midfielder who joined Chelsea in the close season, Leicester paid the price for poor finishing and defensive mistakes.

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

“A lot of the time it was fingers crossed to make sure that we had enough players to get out onto this field today”, Phelan said.

“But all credit to the football players”.

Ross Barkley gave Everton, managed by new boss Ronald Koeman, a fifth-minute lead at Goodison Park with a free-kick that eluded everyone and curled into the net.

In other matches, Southampton and Watford drew 1-1, Swansea City won 1-0 away at Burnley, West Bromwich Albion grabbed a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace while Middlesbrough and Stoke City fought out a 1-1 draw.

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.