Diego Gomez sensationally scored from the halfway line as Brighton struck three goals in the opening 10 minutes en route to thrashing bitter rivals Crystal Palace 5-0.

The Albion midfielder spectacularly opened his account for the season by pinging the ball over stranded Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez from fractionally inside opposition territory.

His 51-metre finish conjured memories of David Beckham’s eye-catching effort against Wimbledon 30 years ago and was the longest-range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney scored from 58 metres for Everton against West Ham in November 2017.

Jaydee Canvot’s own goal had set the Seagulls on course for a fourth successive top-flight win before Yasin Ayari’s deflected finish quickly added to Gomez’s stunner in a remarkable opening to the contest.

Charalampos Kostoulas added the fourth before Jack Hinshelwood completed the scoring after Eagles substitutes Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jefferson Lerma were denied consolations by the goal frame.

Brighton’s resounding victory was a first over Palace at the fifth attempt under head coach Fabian Hurzeler to move the high-flying south-coast club on to 16 points from seven games.

Eagles fans had packed the away end waving inflatable Conference League trophies to taunt Albion supporters but endured a humiliating afternoon in soggy Sussex as their outclassed side meekly surrendered.

Palace had won on their previous two visits to the Amex Stadium. Yet hope of repeating those results swiftly evaporated during a nightmare start for Pierre Sage’s side.

With less than four minutes gone, Seagulls midfielder Pascal Gross delivered an inswinging free-kick from the left and Eagles defender Canvot nodded into his own net from inside the six-yard box.

Away supporters, who began the match singing ‘Champions of Europe’ following their success in the Conference League last season, were again silenced just three minutes later by Gomez’s goal-of-the-season contender.

There appeared to be little danger when Palace captain Adam Wharton conceded possession just inside Brighton’s half.

However, following a pass from Olivier Boscagli, the alert Gomez spotted Benitez over his line and superbly found the net with a driven attempt.

Amid relentless rain, Palace boss Sage was left staring in disbelief on the touchline in the 10th minute when Ayari fired into the bottom-left corner via a deflection off Canvot after Albion forward Kostoulas back-heeled the ball back from the left.

The visitors continued to offer little in response, while Ferdi Kadioglu and Kostoulas threatened further punishment.

Brighton boss Hurzeler faced chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” during his team’s 1-0 home loss to the Eagles in February.

This was a significantly more enjoyable occasion, and scant hope of Palace fightback was extinguished four minutes into the second period when Kostoulas poked into the bottom-left corner after Ayari’s initial effort was blocked.

Mateta – making only his second appearance of the season following a hamstring injury – wasted a golden chance to pull one back by curling against the crossbar in the 63rd minute.

With many Eagles fans already heading back to south London, fellow replacement Lerma later nodded against the left post following a Wharton corner.

Palace’s misery was compounded six minutes from time when Hinshelwood poked home after Luka Vuskovic’s header was repelled by Benitez, leaving jubilant Brighton followers to celebrate a famous derby triumph.