Brighton made an explosive start in the M23 Derby against Crystal Palace with Diego Gomez’s 50-yard screamer among three goals they scored inside the opening 10 minutes.

Gomez took control of the ball inches inside the Palace half and sent a brilliant long-range effort over Walter Benitez and into the net.

That doubled Brighton’s lead with the opener gifted to them, Jaydee Canvot glancing Pascal Gross’ left-wing free-kick into his own net with just four minutes gone.

The Brighton fans were in dreamland but it got even better after 10 minutes. Gomez broke free from his marker, picked out Charalampos Kostoulas and his cross was turned in by Yasin Ayari.

Palace had been hoping to build on last weekend’s Premier League win over former boss Oliver Glasner and his Nottingham Forest team but were an absolute shambles.

It was the earliest that a side has scored three goals in a Premier League game since Newcastle vs Tottenham in April 2023 (08:12).

A win would take Brighton above Arsenal and into second place in the Premier League table although the Gunners could replace them when they play Forest later on Sunday.