LONDON — Leicester City's Premier League title defense got off to a dismal start as crisis-club Hull clinched a 2-1 win over the champion, while the Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City started with a dramatic 2-1 victory against Sunderland Saturday's opening day.
Three months on from its fairytale title triumph, Leicester fell to Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass' 57th-minute strike after Riyad Mahrez had canceled out Adama Diomande's opener.
Leicester's stumble was followed by an equally gripping encounter at Eastlands, where new City manager Guardiola enjoyed some good fortune in his first Premier League match.
Sergio Aguero's early penalty for City was erased by Jermain Defoe's second-half equalizer before an 87th minute own goal from debutant Paddy McNair gifted the points to Guardiola's side despite its inconsistent display.
Leicester is the first defending English champion to start the campaign with a defeat since 1989, when Arsenal lost at Manchester United, and boss Claudio Ranieri admitted it was a sign of the tough campaign ahead.
"I told my players this season will be harder than last season," said Ranieri, whose side lost only three times last season.
Leicester went behind in first-half stoppage time at the KCOM Stadium when Kasper Schmeichel parried Curtis Davies' header and Diomande and Abel Hernandez launched themselves at the loose ball.
Both men attempted an overhead volley; Hernandez made contact first, but the ball flicked off Diomande's foot and flashed into the net.
Mahrez equalized from the penalty spot in the 47th minute after Tom Huddlestone clipped Demarai Gray from behind, although replays showed the foul occurred outside the box.
But 10 minutes later Hull secured victory when Danny Simpson could only partially clear Ahmed Elmohamady's cross and Snodgrass thrashed the loose ball home.
Hull is without a permanent manager following Steve Bruce's resignation last month and had just 13 senior players in its match-day squad.
After trophy-laden spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola is expected to bring major silverware to City.
The Spaniard quickly put his stamp on the team with debuts for new signings John Stones and Nolito and a surprise decision to replace goalkeeper Joe Hart with Willy Caballero.
Guardiola's debut began in ideal fashion when Raheem Sterling won a fourth-minute penalty after a foul by Patrick van Aanholt.
Argentina forward Aguero drove in the spot-kick, but Sunderland equalized in the 71st minute.
Jack Rodwell slipped a pass through the heart of the City defense to Defoe, who slotted past Caballero.
That set the stage for a late flurry of City pressure which culminated in former Manchester United defender McNair heading a Jesus Navas cross into his own net from close-range.
Meanwhile, Erik Lamela equalized to earn Tottenham — last season's third-place team — a 1-1 draw at Everton.
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.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris limped off with a hamstring injury in the 35th minute.
But Lamela equalized in the 59th minute with a header from Kyle Walker's cross.
Meanwhile, Swansea won 1-0 at promoted Burnley courtesy of an 82nd-minute strike by Leroy Fer.
Salomon Rondon's 74th-minute header earned West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis a 1-0 victory at his former club Crystal Palace.
Southampton manager Claude Puel and his Watford counterpart Walter Mazzarri started life at their respective new clubs with a 1-1 draw at St Mary's.
Etienne Capoue put Watford ahead in the ninth minute, but Nathan Redmond leveled in the 58th minute before Hornets midfielder Ben Watson was sent off.
Middlesbrough was denied victory in its first top-flight game since 2009 as a 67th-minute free-kick by Xherdan Shaqiri earned Stoke a 1-1 draw after Alvaro Negredo's 11th minute opener.
