Leicester begin Premier League title defence with defeat against Hull

Leicester City’s Danny Simpson and Hull City’s Adama Diomande vie for the ball in the Premier League season opener at KCOM Stadium in Hull on Saturday.

Yet the defeat by Hull, as they became the first defending champions to lose their opening Premier League match, showed how things will be tougher this time around, particularly if Leicester’s key players can’t repeat last season’s heroics.

Hull’s preparations for their top-flight return have been nightmarish, with Steve Bruce walking out and his assistant Mike Phelan left in caretaker charge of a squad consisting just 13 fit first-teamers, supplemented here by five academy prospects on the bench.

Leicester equalized with a penalty nearly immediately after the re-start, Riyad Mahrez driving home the spot-kick.

A second-half strike from Robert Snodgrass proved the difference, the Scotland worldwide drove a shot in the back of the net after Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel carelessly gave away possession.

Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic denied Christian Fuchs shortly before the interval, with the defender popping up inside the area after a neat one-two with Musa.

But they were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Hull took the lead against the run of play in added time at the end of the half.

Leicester’s 2015-16 season hero Jamie Vardy seemed subdued, unable to capture the form from previous year that saw him win England selection and the Premier League title.

“They played better, we tried to do our best but they fought incredible and we didn’t fight as a team and that is the key of the match”.

Well, it goes without saying, we should be in for an encapsulating clash in the North-East today. The team that lost three games in all of last season has begun with a defeat; their first loss since February.

“They played better. We tried to do our best”.

The ball was still in the danger zone and Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez improvised brilliantly to hook the ball over Schmeichel and into the net.

“The adversity this club and this group of players have been through in the last month has been huge”.

It took Leicester less than two minutes of the second half to draw level, Tom Huddlestone raking Gray marginally outside the area but conceding a penalty anyway.

Those are the sorts of setbacks, however, which Leicester must overcome as champions this season, says Henry.

Expectations on Pep’s side could not be higher and City got off to the quickest start possible when Sergio Aguero converted a penalty won by the very impressive Raheem Sterling after just three minutes of action.