Brighton & Hove Albion began their Premier League campaign in emphatic fashion on Sunday, thrashing 10-man Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton took control after just eight minutes when Maxim De Cuyper’s effort struck the post before deflecting into the net off Villa defender Victor Lindelof for an own goal.

De Cuyper doubled Brighton’s advantage 10 minutes later, finishing from close range after Georginio Rutter broke behind the Villa defence and cut the ball back into the area.

Villa, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season and won the Europa League, struggled to recover as Brighton continued to dominate.

The hosts added a third goal in the 30th minute when Jack Hinshelwood converted from close range after Diego Gomez redirected De Cuyper’s cross into his path.

Brighton struck again just a minute later. Yasin Ayari won possession from Joao Gomes inside the Villa penalty area before setting up Hinshelwood, who calmly finished to complete his brace and put the hosts 4-0 ahead.

Villa’s difficult afternoon worsened shortly before half-time when Gomes was sent off following a VAR review. The Brazilian, who was already on a yellow card, was shown a straight red after kicking out at Rutter.

Villa had started the match positively and nearly took the lead inside five minutes when Emiliano Buendia capitalised on a Brighton error, but his effort narrowly missed the bottom corner.

Brighton, however, responded with ruthless efficiency and punished Villa’s defensive mistakes to establish a four-goal lead before the interval.

The visitors improved defensively after the break and prevented Brighton from extending their advantage, but the damage had already been done.

The result gives Brighton a perfect start to the new Premier League season, while Villa will be left to assess a costly defensive collapse and Gomes’ early dismissal.