Pep’s refresh: A day of debuts at Brighton in 2017 | OneFootball

We take a look back to the opening day of the 2017/18 season when City became Brighton’s first ever Premier League opponents.

It also introduced several key players and ushered in the start of an era of unprecedented domestic dominance in the English game.

We travel to Brighton this weekend for just our third outing of the 2025/26 campaign, with several new faces getting accustomed to life at City.

Where the likes of James Trafford, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki are currently adjusting to everything Pep Guardiola asks of a player, there have been many more who have experienced similar in the past.

In the summer of 2017, Guardiola set about refreshing City’s squad after a year of bedding in at the Etihad.

That meant a host of younger talent introduced to a squad that already had the foundation of Pep’s first great City team through the likes of Vincent Kompany, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

WATCH: Brighton 0-2 City: Brief highlights

The finishing touches were required and on the opening day of the 2017/18 season, four men made their debut who would, in time, forever be recognised amongst the Centurions and Fourmidables.

Ederson, Danilo and Kyle Walker all started in that game, with Bernardo Silva coming on from the bench midway through the second half.

Enthusiasm and energy was high at the AMEX that afternoon, with Brighton playing their first game in the top-flight since 1983.

Chris Hughton’s team were recognisable for fans of English football through the years, with towering defenders and a dogged midfield. All in all, they were a little removed and pragmatic compared to the Seagulls side we see today.

None of that fazed Ederson of course, whose trademark composure was evident immediately – and with City fans not yet used to his incredible ability with the ball at his feet, there were a few hearts in mouths on occasion as the Brazilian played out from the back.

For Kyle Walker, this was nothing new. However, his extreme pace was used in perhaps a even more attacking role than would become the norm.

He and Danilo were wing backs, with Guardiola opting to protect his goal with Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi in a back three.

That left no room in the starting XI for Bernardo, who got his first taste of English football as a late substitute.

His determination, mixed with exceptional close control, almost instantly meant Guardiola trusted him – with the Portuguese playmaker featuring a whopping 53 times in his first campaign.

Sergio Aguero of course scored the opener in the 70th minute before a Lewis Dunk own goal shortly afterwards sealed the points.

It was an impressive start to the season, but surely no one could have predicted the record-breaking year that was to follow.

Quite apart from the signings, this game also saw the central midfield three of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho cement their status as Pep’s first choice.

It’s perhaps that tactical tweak as much as any that helped us to 198 points and two of the most incredible Premier League titles over the two campaigns that would follow.

So, on what was an historic day and the promise of a new world for our hosts on the south coast, Pep’s City reign truly began in earnest.

Now, Guardiola is looking to forge ahead with another new-look City side, captained by Bernardo, and this latest summer trip to Brighton could be a perfect springboard.