Brighton 4-0 Aston Villa: Seagulls demolish Villa in stunning Premier League opener at the Amex

Brighton & Hove Albion made a sensational start to the new Premier League season with a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium on Sunday.

The Seagulls tore into Unai Emery's side from the opening whistle, scoring four times in a remarkable first half as Fabian Hürzeler's team produced one of their most impressive performances in recent memory.

Victor Lindelöf's own goal gave Brighton the lead after just eight minutes before new signing Maxim De Cuyper doubled the advantage 10 minutes later.

Jack Hinshelwood then took centre stage, scoring twice in the space of two minutes to put Brighton 4-0 ahead before the half-hour mark.

Villa's afternoon went from bad to worse shortly afterwards when João Gomes was sent off following a VAR review for violent conduct. The summer signing had initially been shown a yellow card after an incident involving Georginio Rutter, but the decision was upgraded to a red.

With Villa reduced to 10 men and Brighton already four goals ahead, the contest was effectively over before half-time.

Brighton's intensity overwhelms Villa

The result was particularly impressive given the changes Brighton have made during the summer and the absence of several important players.

The Seagulls were praised for their intensity, pressing and clinical finishing, with Sky Sports pundit Daniel Sturridge describing how Villa simply could not cope with Brighton's first-half performance.

Hürzeler's side repeatedly forced mistakes from Villa's defence and attacked with pace, while De Cuyper's advanced positioning caused particular problems.

For Villa, the defeat raised fresh questions about how quickly Emery can rebuild a squad that has undergone significant change during the summer. Several important players have departed, while the future of striker Ollie Watkins remains uncertain.

A dream opening for Brighton

The four-goal victory puts Brighton at the top of the early Premier League table after the opening round of fixtures, with the Seagulls boasting a goal difference +4.

For Brighton supporters, the result represents a hugely encouraging beginning to the 2026/27 campaign.

After a summer of departures, injuries and questions about how the squad would adapt, Hürzeler's team answered those doubts emphatically at the Amex.

Brighton will now look to build on Sunday's statement victory as the new Premier League season gets into full swing.

Final score: Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Aston Villa

Goals: Victor Lindelöf own goal (8'), Maxim De Cuyper (18'), Jack Hinshelwood (30', 31').