10-man Aston Villa humiliated 4-0 at Brighton in one of the Premier League's worst opening-day collapses

Aston Villa were reduced to ten men and trailed 4-0 at half-time in one of the most disastrous opening-day performances in Premier League history, as Unai Emery’s side collapsed at Brighton on the first weekend of the new season.

Victor Lindelof set the tone inside eight minutes by bundling into his own net, before Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper doubled the advantage. Jack Hinshelwood then scored twice in two minutes to make it four, and the afternoon worsened further when Joao Gomes — a £38m summer signing from Wolves — was sent off on his first Premier League appearance for the club. Empty seats appeared in the Villa away end before the interval.

The result arrives at the end of a turbulent summer for the Europa League winners. Villa have lost four starters from the side that beat Freiburg 3-0 in May, with Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa all departing. The club recouped substantial fees — a record £117m from Chelsea for Rogers, £51m for Konsa and £35m for Tielemans — and have broken their own transfer record to sign Johan Manzambi, while Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki appears set to replace Emiliano Martinez.

Both Ollie Watkins and Martinez were absent from Villa’s matchday squad at Brighton, fuelling speculation over their futures. Watkins is understood to be a target for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, and his omission from the travelling party will only intensify those reports.

Emery’s response when asked whether the omission signalled the end of Watkins’ time at the club did little to clarify matters. After a lengthy pause, the Villa manager offered a single word: “Silence.” Emery had previously stated publicly that he wants to retain Watkins, while also confirming that bids have been received for the England international.

The scale of the defeat and the unresolved transfer business leave Villa facing a deeply uncertain start to a campaign in which they will also compete in the Champions League for the first time in 41 years.