The champions, Leicester City, started their campaign at the KCOM stadium, looking to push on from the last season. Hull City, on the other hand, have been in the news for what is going on off the field, recently. In this game, though, Hull City showed the resilience to take the game to the champions and ran out deserved winners.
Winning the game 2-1 with excellent goals from Diomande and Snodgrass, they brought the champions back to earth. The season opener took place at the KCOM stadium and there were quite a few performances, which stood out.
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Here is a look at the 5 talking points:
#1 Hull City show they are not going to roll over
If the first half was anything to go by, Hull City did not look as undercooked as feared. It was understandable that being the season opener, both teams were tentative and there were some jittery back passes which almost resulted in Leicester taking the lead.
But just before half time Hull City took the lead via an overhead goal, a combination of Adama Diomande and Abel Hernandez, with the last touch coming off Diomande.
Mike Phelan may be the caretaker coach, but the defensive shape and the ability to counter attack against the team, which reinvented counter-attack last season to capture the Premier League, was indeed a display of good tactics.
The unrest at Hull City may have put undue pressure on a lot of players, but the Tigers showed focus and determination and the fans would be pleased with their on the pitch performance.
#2 Robert Snodgrass lights up the game
The Scottish international was a livewire throughout the game. He constantly drove at the Leicester defence, which looked sketchy, to say the least.
The Foxes truly missed the presence of Kante and Huth – especially the goal to give Hull the lead for the second time, which was picked up in midfield by Snodgrass who played it wide before the deflected cross fell perfectly for him to finish emphatically.
The presence of Kante may have minimised the space and the luxury which was effectively utilised by the Scot to dispatch the shot that got him the goal.
Known for his freekicks, the Scotsman showed perfect technique and calmness to score the goal which would eventually turn out to be the matchwinner.
His constant running with the ball and his defensive duty without it was a joy to behold.
#3 Champions Leicester were overwhelmed
Coming into the game, Leicester were the clear favourites, a tag which they weren’t used to till the final stages of last season. This season, teams would have figured out how to defend against Leicester.
If Leicester are to continue pushing for the top places in the league, then they need to be more clinical with their finishing. A host of chances were squandered by the defending champions.
History doesn’t favour the defending champions to get into their groove early, so Leicester will hope their performances pick up over the season and hope to defend their title.
#4 Musa’s pace should light up Leicester
The performance of new signing Ahmed Musa, though, will bring cheer to the Leicester fans, as he seems like a good purchase. Much was made of the signing of this Nigerian forward who shone brightly for CSKA in the Russian league, and now his arrival at Leicester augurs well for the Foxes.
A constant runner, he put in a shift that must have delighted everyone at the club. The only thing to complain about was his final ball.
At times, Musa was better placed to shoot, but instead of taking it on he chose to make a pass and the momentum was lost. His rapport with Vardy was bright and towards the end of the first half he set up the England international as well.
A very direct footballer, with pace to burn, on the evidence of the first game, Musa can look to have a bright future with Leicester.
#5 Foxes outfoxed by the Tigers
After a contentious penalty was awarded, which allowed Riyad Mahrez to draw level at the start of the second half, Hull wrestled control over the match and the Foxes continued to be second best throughout. Hull were hungrier for the ball, trying to stem all the negativity surrounding the club and instead just play football on the pitch.
The roar that greeted the Tigers at the end of the game was deafening enough. The tactical switch to go with three central defenders culled the impact of Vardy. Jake Livermore was an important player to the team, and Mike Phelan countered the pace of Vardy and Musa by playing deep.
Understandably, as the match wore on, gaps opened up in the centre and the entire team started defending as a unit with Abel Hernandez being the only outlet. Mahrez did, at times, seem subdued but the flash of trickery and skill, which was his weapon last season, was still there. Hull did well to shackle him and stop him from playing.
If the Foxes are to do better this season, they will quickly have to come up with alternative ideas to counter stubborn defences.
