Hull city vs Leicester preview

He scored 24 times last season. Can he repeat that heroic mode.

Phelan said on Friday that Curtis Davies was his only recognised centre-back and would be partnered by midfielder Jake Livermore.

Leicester City have a fully-fit squad for their opening game but defender Robert Huth completes a three-game ban.

Ahmed Musa and Nampalys Mendy could make their Premier League debuts.

Matty James is available after missing the whole of last season's title-winning campaign with a knee injury but Ritchie De Laet and Gokhan Inler will not be included having been told they can find new clubs.

Hull's inactivity in the transfer market leaves Phelan with few options and he could reportedly have just 13 senior players available.

"It's not the hardest team in the world to pick, but I know this group of players will give it their all," said Phelan.

Mrsnowgyblog Prediction

Hull city are in a bad place right now with no manager in place and also the lack of activities in the transfer zone is also  another bone of contention.

So I am backing Leicester to start the defence of the title with a win. I don't think they will win the league again this season but I still think they are a very good side and they will have a decent season.

Prediction: 0-2

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Leicester City are unbeaten in the past five league meetings (W3, D2).
• Hull have failed to score in their past three league games against Leicester, including in both Premier League meetings in 2014-15.
• However, Hull knocked Leicester out of the League Cup last season, winning a penalty shoot-out 5-4 after a 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium.

Hull City

• Hull conceded just 12 goals in 23 home games in last season's Championship, excluding the play-offs. Only Middlesbrough, with eight goals conceded, had a better record.
• A newly promoted side hasn't won on the opening weekend of a Premier League campaign since August 2012, when West Ham beat Aston Villa 1-0.
• The Tigers have lost all five of their early Saturday kick-offs in the Premier League.
• Hull failed to score in their final three games of the 2014-15 Premier League season and are without a goal in their last five hours and four minutes in the competition.

Leicester City

• The last reigning English champions to begin their title defence with a defeat was Arsenal in 1989 (they lost 4-1 at Manchester United).
• Leicester's average possession in last season's Premier League was 42.4% - only Sunderland (40.6%) and West Brom (39.4%) recorded lower figures.
• The Foxes were top of the league for 147 days last season.
• Claudio Ranieri only made 33 changes to Leicester's league line-up during the 2015-16 campaign - 21 fewer than any other team.
• Ranieri will be looking to secure his 100th Premier League win as a manager - he would be only the fifth non-British or Irish manager to reach this landmark.

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