Prem: City Win, Leicester Lose, Spurs Held

Premier League champions Leicester were stunned as they kicked off the defence of their title with a 2-1 defeat against newly promoted Hull, who had only 13 fit senior players, at the KCOM Stadium.

Hull City 2-1 Leicester City FT

Hull took the lead against the run of play in added time at the end of the first half after Leicester had missed plenty of chances. Kasper Schmeichel saved excellently from Curtis Davies’ header before the rebound was acrobatically kicked in by a combination of Abel Hernandez and Adama Diomande although it was officially awarded to Norwegian striker Diomande.

The lead was short-lived though, with Riyad Mahrez levelling things from the penalty spot after Demarai Gray was adjudged to have been fouled by Tom Huddlestone on the edge of the area just 14 seconds into the second-half.

Hull then got their noses back in front on 57 minutes with a powerful left-footed strike from Robert Snodgrass after sloppy defending from Leicester and the Tigers held on to record a major upset.

Manchester City got off to a winning start to the Pep Guardiola era with a late 2-1 victory against Sunderland.

Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland FT

It did not take long for City to break through as Raheem Sterling, who impressed in preseason on the right-wing, won a penalty inside five minutes with a neat turn in the box which drew a foul from Patrick Van Aanholt. Sergio Aguero stepped up and slotted coolly into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

City were made to pay for missing their chances though as Jermain Defoe levelled on 71 minutes. Former City midfielder Jack Rodwell fed the ball into Defoe, who kept his calm before slotting the ball under Caballero.

However, great work from Navas got City ahead again with just two minutes remaining. The Spaniard’s low cross was bound for substitute Kelechi Iheanacho in the box but was deflected into his own net by new signing Paddy McNair.

Everton were pegged back to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham at Goodison Park and had new goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to thank late on.

Everton 1-1Tottenham Hotspur FT

The Toffees took the lead inside the first five minutes from a Ross Barkley free kick which evaded everyone and found the far corner past Hugo Lloris’ despairing dive. Lloris didn’t last until the half, though, as Michel Vorm came on to replace the goalkeeper, who suffered a hamstring injury while chasing down the ball.

Spurs were back level shortly after the break as Erik Lamela headed home a Kyle Walker cross and applied the late pressure as Stekelenburg palmed away a close-range shot from Janssen, saw Eriksen’s free-kick go onto the roof of his net and brilliantly tipped away a Lamela effort that deflected off Mason Holgate.

Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw Watford as Nathan Redmond netted on his debut for the club.

Southampton 1-1 Watford FT

Etienne Capoue gave Watford the lead on nine minutes after Troy Deeney headed down a cross into his path and he swept the ball home. But Saints hit back soon after half-time as Redmond scored on his debut with a fine volley after Heurelho Gomes failed to clear his lines with a weak punch.

Ben Watson was then sent off just 11 minutes after coming on as he brought down Shane Long as the Irishman bore down on goal.

Middlesbrough came away from their first game back in the top flight with a 1-1 draw against Stoke City.

Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke City FT

Boro took the lead as Alvaro Negredo nodded the ball over the line from close range but Marten de Roon was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury before the break.

Gaston Ramirez hammered two shots against the post as Boro almost broke through again and Albert Adomah failed to pick out a teammate when well-placed to double the lead. And they were made to pay as Xherdan Shaqiri curled a wonderful free kick into the bottom corner to equalise in the 68th minute.

Crystal Palace lost 1-0 to West Brom as Salomon Rondon struck the only goal of the game.

Crystal Palace 0-1  West Bromwich Albion FT

Wayne Hennessey made a couple of fine saves to keep Palace in the game early on, but the most action from the first half came when Claudio Yacob slid in hard on Mile Jedinak and the Australian reacted by pushing him to the ground — an action which went unpunished.

Palace came away with the win, as James McClean whipped over a free-kick from the right and Rondon headed home.

Swansea eventually broke through the Burnley resistance to come away with a 1-0 win.

Burnley 0-1 Swansea City FT

An even first half almost 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. Fernandez went close again, this time scooping over the bar from close range.

But Leroy Fer broke through late on as Tom Heaton saved well from Fernando Llorente’s glancing header but it fell right into the path of the Dutch midfielder who slotted home. Fabianski then made a stunning late save to keep the score at 1-0.

-espnfc