A late own goal by former Manchester United defender Paddy McNair, ensured new coach Pep Guardiola’s Premier League career got off to a winning start as Manchester City downed Sunderland 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Debutant McNair, under pressure from Kelechi Iheanacho, turned the ball past keeper Vito Mannone in the 87th minute to deny Sunderland a point after Jermain Defoe’s second-half finish had cancelled out Sergio Aguero’s early penalty.
Aguero fired City into the lead in the fourth minute after Patrick van Aanholt brought down the lively Raheem Sterling but City were lethargic in attack despite enjoying the vast majority of possession.
Sunderland thought they had taken a point when the evergreen Defoe peeled away from the home defence after being picked out by Jack Rodwell in the 71st minute. However, David Moyes was denied a debut draw as City’s growing pressure finally told.
Hull City stun champs Leicester
Leicester City’s Premier League title defence got off to a terrible start as they were beaten 2-1 at promoted Hull City, who shrugged off an injury crisis to shock the champions
Riyad Mahrez’s second-half penalty for Leicester had earlier cancelled out Adama Diomande’s acrobatic overhead kick.
Diomande gave Hull the lead against the run of play in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, leaping in tandem with Abel Hernandez to meet Kasper Schmeichel’s punched clearance from a Curtis Davies header.
Mahrez responded from the penalty spot two minutes into the second half after Tom Huddlestone had clipped Demarai Gray on the edge of the area, before Snodgrass slammed home the winner, providing some respite for Hull, who had only 13 fit first-team players available.
Spurs hold Everton
A superb header by Argentine Erik Lamela earned Tottenham a 1-1 draw at Everton on Ronald Koeman’s Premier League debut as the Toffees coach after Ross Barkley gave the home side an early lead at Goodison Park.
England midfielder Barkley provided Koeman with a perfect start to the season after floating in a fifth-minute free kick which evaded everyone in the penalty area and beat Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at the far post.
Lloris limped off with a hamstring injury in the 36th minute and his replacement Michel Vorm kept the visitors afloat with a fine save on the stroke of halftime, denying Gerard Deulofeu who was sent clear by an awful back pass from Danny Rose.
Tottenham dominated after the break and got a deserved equaliser on the hour mark when Lamela turned in Kyle Walker’s cross. Everton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg rescued his side in the closing stages when he thwarted livewire Lamela and substitute Vincent Janssen.
Rondon heads WBA past Palace
Striker Salomon Rondon nodded the only goal to give West Bromwich Albion a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace in their opening Premier League match of the season.
The Venezuelan, who had a fine chance saved by the diving Wayne Hennessey early in the first half, steered a glancing header from substitute James McClean’s free-kick inside the bottom corner of the net in the 74th minute.
Palace deserved a point but, despite having two-thirds of possession, they picked up where they left off last season when they struggled to turn dominance into goals.
The home side’s best chance came eight minutes into the second half. Lee Chung-yong sent Wilfried Zaha on a run down the middle but keeper Ben Foster blocked the ball at the striker’s feet and then saved his second effort from the rebound.
Swansea win at Burnley
Leroy Fer’s late goal gave Swansea City a 1-0 win away to newly- promoted Burnley
Burnley midfielder Dean Marney headed narrowly over the crossbar early in the second half and Swansea midfielder Gyfli Sigurdsson, on as a substitute, tested Burnley keeper Tom Heaton with a powerful free kick.
Fer grabbed the winner eight minutes from time, bundling the ball in from close range after Heaton had saved Fernando Llorente’s header.
