Good afternoon everyone! It was just over three months ago that the last Premier League season came to an end, but following an incredible World Cup the new campaign is back underway today. Fans across the country will be hoping that this could be their team's year to achieve something special and that is certainly true of the two clubs going head to head today.

Leicester City fans have had to wait 10 years for their return to the Premier League. Their last match in the top flight came against Arsenal's "Invincibles" at Highbury in 2004, but after romping their way to the Championship title last season they are back among English football's elite.

Morning Foxes fans! It's here! The day the Barclays @premierleague returns to Leicester! Come on City! #LeiEve pic.twitter.com/fSG1PlavgS

— Leicester City (@OfficialFOXES) August 16, 2014

Their opponents this afternoon are an Everton side who finished fifth in the league last time around, in what was Robert Martinez's first season in charge. They came so close to a spot in the Champions League, before a late collapse meant they had to settle for a place in the Europa League.

The team news has been announced, so without further ado let's see which players have made it into the starting lineups for today's curtain raiser, beginning with the hosts.

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Moore, Konchesky, Knockaert, Drinkwater, King, Mahrez, Ulloa, Nugent

EVERTON XI: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Stones, McCarthy, Barry, Pienaar, McGeady, Naismith, Lukaku

LEICESTER CITY SUBS: Hamer, Hammond, Schlupp, Hopper, Taylor-Fletcher, Wasilewski, Wood

EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Mirallas, Besic, Atsu, Osman, Coleman, Alcaraz

Leicester have named record signing Leonardo Ulloa in their starting lineup. He will partner last season's top scorer David Nugent in the home side's attack. Anthony Knockaert has recovered from an ankle injury to start, where he will join Riyad Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater and Andy King in the midfield.

Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has been named in the Everton side, despite his manager's concerns over his fitness. John Stones is also included, with Seamus Coleman having to settle for a place on the bench due to a recent hamstring injury. There is no Ross Barkley, who faces a month on the sidelines, but there is plenty of experience with the likes of Tim Howard, Gareth Barry and Sylvain Distin all starting.

As previously mentioned, Leicester are back in the top flight after winning the Championship. They finished last season on 102 points after racking up 31 wins, with just six defeats. A stunning unbeaten run of 21 games from mid-December to early April will have surely sent out a message that Nigel Pearson's men have the resolve to challenge at a higher level.

Unsurprisingly, the Foxes bagged plenty of goals on their way to the title. Their tally of 83 was the second best in the league, with David Nugent (20) and Jamie Vardy (16) finishing among the division's top 10 scorers. They were solid at the back too, conceding 43 goals. Only Burnley (37) and Brighton & Hove Albion (40) fared better.

It was also a season to celebrate for Everton fans. After 11 years at the club, David Moyes left to become the new Manchester United manager and in his place came former Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez. The Spaniard's reign as manager didn't get off to a spectacular start, with the club drawing their first three Premier League games, but following a 1-0 victory over Chelsea they started to show how much of a threat they could pose to the top four.

Gutted to be injured and not be part of today's first game of the season but hope the lads get the 3 points #coyb — Ross Barkley (@RBarkley20) August 16, 2014

Indeed it had looked as if they would book a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League for the first time in nine years when a seven game winning run moved them above Arsenal into the much-coveted fourth place. However, three defeats from their final five games of the season meant that they finished in fifth spot and they will now enter the Europa League at the group stage phase.

Indeed it had looked as if they would book a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League for the first time in nine years when a seven game winning run moved them above Arsenal into the much-coveted fourth place. However, three defeats from their final five games of the season meant that they finished in fifth spot and they will now enter the Europa League at the group stage phase.

Much of Everton's success was based on their solid defensive performances. Goalkeeper Tim Howard managed to keep 15 clean sheets for the Toffees, which was just one behind Petr Cech and Wojciech Szczesny's league best of 16. Only Manchester City and Chelsea conceded less goals than them and they also managed to score the sixth most goals in the league, with Romelu Lukaku netting 15 of those.

UPDATE! The first game of the Premier League season has just finished and it is Swansea City who will start the day on top of the table. They have just beaten Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Ki Sung-Yueng and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Wayne Rooney scored United's goal, as Louis van Gaal's reign as manager got off to a losing start.

Judging by each club's pre-season, it is Leicester who are the side in form. They have gone unbeaten in their preparations over the summer, winning six of their seven friendlies. The same cannot be said of Everton, who have failed to win any of their three matches in the build up to today's clash.

These teams actually met at the end of July in a friendly. The Foxes came out on top with Gary Taylor-Fletcher's goal giving them a 1-0 win in Thailand. You have to go back more than 10 years for the last competitive fixture between the teams. That Premier League match ended in a 1-1 draw at today's venue, with a certain Wayne Rooney scoring for the visitors.

© Getty Images

Let's take a look at which players have arrived at the two clubs this summer. The standout transfer as far as Everton fans are concerned, is that of Romelu Lukaku. He scored 16 goals during a loan spell from Chelsea last season and that impressive return has promoted the Toffees to splash out a club record £28m to secure him on a permanent basis. Gareth Barry has also signed following a similarly productive loan spell, while Muhamed Besic has arrived from Ferencvaros. The 21-year-old was part of Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad at the World Cup and he is believed to have cost Everton a fee of £4m. In the past week the club have also signed Ghana winger Christian Atsu from Chelsea on loan for the season.

Meanwhile, Leicester have also broken their transfer record by forking out £8m for striker Leonardo Ulloa. The Argentine bagged 16 goals for Brighton & Hove Albion last season and his new club will be hoping that he can replicate this form over the next nine months. Their other notable signings include Marc Albrighton and Matthew Upson, who both have plenty of Premier League experience under their belts.

PREDICTION: Leicester come into the match off the back of a brilliant Championship campaign and a positive pre-season. They have certainly been handed a tough assignment today, against one of the best teams in the division last season. The visitors undoubtedly possess the more quality of the two sides, but I feel that the support of the home fans will have a huge impact on the game. I am going to go for a 1-1 draw, in what should be an evenly contested and hard fought match.

Here's a stat that the home fans won't want to see. The club's performances on the opening day of the season in the Premier League hasn't been great in recent years, but they will surely have been inspired by Swansea pulling of an upset at Old Trafford earlier today.

0 - Leicester City have won none of their last five fixtures on the opening weekend of the Barclays Premier League (D3 L2). Task.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 16, 2014

The players are out on the pitch in front of a packed home crowd. We are just a couple of minutes away from the start of the season for these two clubs!

KICKOFF! We are underway at the King Power Stadium!

We are still yet to see a chance on goal, in what has been a scrappy opening to the match. There have been a few clumsy challenges, with neither team having a sustained spell in possession so far.

The visitors are starting to look the more dangerous of the two teams and Lukaku has seen the ball in some promising positions. To the home side's credit, they are shutting down their opponents quickly and making it hard for them to get into their usual passing style.

Leicester are starting to get pushed back deep inside their own half and Everton are almost in behind when Naismith gets free down the left, but his pull back across the box doesn't pick out any of his teammates and the hosts manage to scramble the ball clear.

McGeady has the first effort on target in the match, as he works some space on the edge of the box, before getting a low shot away. Unfortunately for him, his contact with the ball is poor and it ends up rolling comfortably into the hands of Schmeichel.

It's starting to look a little bit last ditch at the back from the hosts, who are struggling to hold onto the ball. Their opponents are taking the game to them and are looking very comfortable in possession.

Leicester manage to break free after cutting out an Everton attack and Knockaert gets the ball down the right. He tries to twist his way past Baines and ends being fouled by the touchline. The free kick is then whipped into the middle, with Howard tipping the ball wide under pressure.

The resulting corner is whipped into the middle and Everton struggle to clear. It eventually drops kindly to Morgan, who is just inside the box, but he can't control his effort and smashes the ball wide of the post.

Everton have taken the lead and it's a fantastic goal from McGeady. The hosts fail to clear a corner and Distin sees his close-range effort saved by Schmeichel. The ball then comes out to McGeady and he curls a brilliant strike into the top right-hand corner of the net.

What a response from the hosts! They were behind for barley two minutes and it's another goal from a set-piece situation. This time Everton fail to deal with a Leicester corner and the ball drops kindly to Ulloa who slams a shot into the back of the net past a helpless Tim Howard.

We really do have a great game on our hands now, with both teams looking shaky at the back. There is also plenty of space on the counter attack for each side and I'm sure we will be seeing more goals this afternoon.

It is end to end at the moment and soon after Lukaku drvies into the box and see his shot across goal saved by the keeper, the hosts break with pace and pick out Knockaert in space. The Frenchman is capable of the spectacular, but this time his strike from range goes just over Howard's bar.

The match has just settled down slightly after a frantic last 10 minutes. Everton are in command at the moment and are enjoying the vast majority of the ball, but they are looking susceptible on the break.

Everton are piling on the pressure and they come close to scoring when Pienaar shows great skill to get to the byline before pulling the ball back to McGeady. The Irishman manages to get his shot away, but he is denied a second goal of the afternoon thanks to a brilliant block by Morgan.

CHANCE! McGeady certainly has looked Everton's most dangerous player this afternoon and he should hit the target when he is picked out on the edge of the box by Pienaar, but he he can only curl his effort over the bar.

SUBSTITUTION: Leicester are forced into a change, as Drinkwater is unable to continue, with Hammond coming on to take his place.

CHANCE! The visitors threaten the goal once again as Naismith manages to wriggle himself some space just outside the box, before drilling in a low strike that goes just wide of the post.

As the game enters the final minute of the first half, the visitors take the lead! Pienaar does brilliantly yet again on the left and his ball into the box picks out Naismith, who fires in an effort that hits the underside of the bar as it heads into the back of the net.

We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The first half comes to an end and Everton are in the lead thanks to Naismith's strike. Leicester will feel hard done by, but in truth the visitors have been the better side this afternoon.

It has been a great game to watch, with two goals inside of 100 seconds sparking the contest into life. Leicester manager Nigel Pearson will have been delighted that his team hit back to falling behind so quickly, but he will have wanted them to go into the break level. It will take a spirited fightback for them to take a point from this match now, but their home fans have shown great support.

PHOTO Leonardo Ulloa celebrates scoring on his #BPL debut for @OfficialFOXES. Leicester 1-1 Everton (38 mins) #LEIEVE pic.twitter.com/9jBAwcsWpT — Premier League (@premierleague) August 16, 2014

Let's take a look at the half-time scores from around the grounds. It is goalless between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, but Kyle Naughton has been sent off for the visitors, with Mark Noble missing a penalty for the Hammers! There have also been no goals in the matches between Queens Park Rangers and Hull City and Stoke City and Aston Villa, while West Bromwich Albion are drawing 1-1 with Sunderland.

A quick look at the stats from the first half shows that Everton have seen plenty of ball, with 62% of the possession. They have also had 11 attempts on goal compared to the home side's four shots. It is all to play for though, with just one goal separating the sides.

© Getty Images

We are back underway!

No chances to speak of yet in the opening minutes of the half, but the pace has certainly not slowed down and the home side are looking for a quick way back into this match.

The hosts have a slight glimpse of the goal as Ulloa meets a cross from Mahrez, but he can't direct his header on target and it heads well wide. The striker has looked positive today for the hosts and his first-half goal will surely have given him a huge amount of confidence.

Pearson will definitely be encouraged by what he has seen so far in this second half, as his side are seeing much more of the ball in advanced positions. They are getting the ball wide quickly, with Nugent and Ulloa looking to make themselves a nuisance in the middle.

As for Everton, they haven't really got going since the half-time interval. Lukaku hasn't seen much of the ball and the Leicester defence haven't really been troubled by the Belgian. McGeady is also looking a bit quiet, following his excellent first half.

Everton may have a slight problem as McCarthy goes down and needs some treatment. He eventually gets back up on his feet, but he is walking rather gingerly.

SUBSTITUTION: Leicester have made their second change, with Schlupp replacing Knockaert.

CHANCE! What a huge chance this is for the substitute! Schlupp has only been on for a minute, but he is played clean through on goal by Mahrez. He is faced with just Howard to beat, but he ends up blazing his effort high over the bar. That's the sort of chance that you have to take at this level.

YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the afternoon goes to Barry, following a late challenge on Ulloa.

YELLOW CARD! The hosts have now picked up their first booking of the match, as Moore sees yellow for tugging back Lukaku.

Leicester have won a free kick in a promising position around 25 yards out from goal, as Mahrez drives forward into space, before being brought down by McCarthy.

Mahrez steps up to take the free kick, but his effort hits the wall and goes behind. They are unable to make anything count from the resulting corner, as Mahrez swings the ball straight out of play.

Leicester are starting to throw everything they have at Everton now, but they are still finding it hard to create any clear cut chances. They will be hoping that Schlupp's miss is not the closest they come to an equaliser before the match finishes.

SUBSTITUTION: Pearson makes his final throw of the dice, as Wood comes on to replace the goalscorer Ulloa.

Wood is quickly involved in the action as he is picked out inside the box by Schlupp. He then holds the ball up, but can't turn under pressure from Distin and Barry comes in to clear the danger.

SUBSTITUTION: Everton have made their first change of the match, with Mirallas coming on for Pienaar.

There is a worrying looking moment for Jagielka, as he goes down after being kicked in the shoulder by Woods. Thankfully it is not too serious and the defender is back up and on his feet in no time.

SUBSTITUTION: Coleman comes on for Everton for the closing stages of the match in place of McCarthy.

Leicester have drawn level for the second time and it looks as if they will take a point on their return to the Premier League! It's the substitute Wood who scores it, as the ball breaks to him kindly inside the box and he shows great composure to guide an effort past Howard.

We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time!

CHANCE! It's all Everton at the moment and they have Leicester pegged back deep inside their own half. They then manage to work the ball wide to Mirallas, who picks out Lukaku in the box, but the striker heads his effort over the bar.

It's all over and Leicester have held on to take a point in their first Premier League match in over 10 years. New Zealand international Chris Wood is the unlikely hero for the Foxes, just days after his move to Wolves collapsed!

Everton will be disappointed that they could not take all three points from today's match, after dominating for large spells. They were arguably the better team, but have been frustrated by a spirited performance from the hosts

That's all we've got time for here. Please stay with us at Sports Mole as we bring you all the reaction to today's opening matches in the Premier League, including Match Analysis and Player Ratings from each game. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, goodbye!