Premier league is BACK! The old new face among the elite, Hull City after finishing on fourth in the Championhip league last season have returned to the top competition, thanks to solid play off perfomances against Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday , and already in the first game the Tigres are opening the new Premier league season against the biggest surprise in football, Leicester City, who led by the Italian boss, Claudio Raineri have clinched the EPL Title last season and thus, automatically sealed and the Champions league competition this season.
PREMIER LEAGUE
August 13, 2016 • 12:30 • Kingston Communications Stadium, Hull
Referee: M. Dean
Hull – Leicester Watch Live Streams
While a good news for Hull City fans is a Premier league return, their club stands as the top candidate for the quick drop already for the next season. A reason for that is simple. The club ended ended their cooperation with an experienced coach Steve Bruce, the coach which brought them back to the top competition, and the club did not sign any new player, while many from the first team are sidelined due to injuries. Many believe that this way a key reason while Bruce has left the club, and given that the club, yet, did not sign a new coach, a former former assistant Mike Phelan will lead the team.
The goalkeeper McGregor and defenders Odubajo, Dawson, Maguire and Bruce are out, the midfielder Diame, the left-back Taylor and the striker Aluko left the club, while the loan contracts for the midfielder Hayden and attackers Powell and Akpom have ended. With many problems of setting the first 11 for the opening EPL clash with Leicester City, a good news is a return of Elmohamady and Huddlestone to the team.
The Foxes made what can be called one of the biggest surprises ever in football, after sealing the league title only a season after which they’ve barely escaped the Premier league drop. For the first time in club’s history, the Foxes will also play in the UEFA Champions league competition.
Given the big result of the team last season, many top clubs have tried to sign and they still do, Foxes’ top players like Vardy and Mahrez, who still remain in the club, but a big blow for Foxes is departure of Kante who joined Chelsea. Except him only goalkeeper Schwarzer and midfielders Dyer while on the other side at the King Power Stadium have arrived many players like the goalkeeper Zieler from Hannover, defender Hernandez from Sporting Gijon, midfielders Mendy from Nice and Kapustka from the KS Cracovia and striker Musa from CSKA Moscow.
The Foxes last week already have played one official game. It was the Super Cup against Manchester United which they’ve lost 2-1, where Ibrahimovic fired a winner. Hernandez, Mendy and Musa made their debuts in the second half which means they could play against Hull City today. Defender Huth remains suspended while defender Benalouane and midfielder James are out due to injuries.
Team Probable lineups
Hull City probable lineup: Jakupović – Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Davies, Robertson – Snodgrass, Livermore, Meyler, Clucas – Hernandez, Diomande
Leicester City probable lineup: Schmeichel – Simpson, Hernandez, Morgan, Fuchs – Mahrez, Mendy, Drinkwater, Albrighton – Musa, Vardy