Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
The 2023/24 Premier League season is under way and you can follow every game and every goal right here with The Independent.
This year sees Manchester City try to defend their crown and claim a historic fourth title in succession. Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City, who also won the Champions League and FA Cup last season, will have to see off Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest to claim an unprecedented sixth league title in seven years.
Meanwhile Luton Town are making their first appearance in the Premier League, having risen from non-league in an incredible decade of progress. They followed Championship winners Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United in earning promotion to the top flight.
Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion LIVE: Premier League updates
Kick off: Aston Villa and Brighton gets underway 12.30pm
GOAL! Ollie Watkins Aston Villa 1-0 Brighton
GOAL! Ollie Watkins Aston Villa 2-0 Brighton
GOAL! Pervis Etupinan own goal Aston Villa 3-0 Brighton
Half Time: Aston Villa 3-0 Brighton
GOAL! Ansu Fati Aston Villa 3-1 Brighton
GOAL! Ollie Watkins Aston Villa 4-1 Brighton
GOAL! Jacob Ramsey Aston Villa 5-1 Brighton
GOAL! Douglas Luiz Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton
FT: Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton
Aston Villa FC 6 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton
15:43 , Sonia Twigg
Ollie Watkins scored a hat trick as Aston Villa routed Brighton 6-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
It was Watkins’ second hat trick of the season, having also netted three against Hibernian in the Europa Conference League in August.
An own goal by Pervis Estupinan and strikes from Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz completed Villa’s win, while on-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati scored a consolation goal for Brighton.
Ollie Watkins scores a hat-trick as Aston Villa thrash Brighton
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:35
That’s all from us here today! Thank you for joining us and have a great weekend!
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:35
As for Aston Villa, what else is there to say? Watkins is the first player to score two hat-tricks in a single season in all competitions for them since Andy Gray in 1976-77. The forward is on fire.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:35
The Seagulls will have to dust themselves off pretty quick after that performance. A wake-up call, perhaps? Or just a bad day? Only time will tell, but they will live with that one for a while.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:34
An Ollie Watkins hat-trick leads an all-time rout for Aston Villa, as they demolish top-six rivals Brighton in the Premier League. The hosts looked unstoppable in the first half, and despite a wobble when Ansu Fati struck after the break, repeated their haul again. Full-time at Villa Park, it has finished Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton and Hove Albion.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:33
FULL-TIME: ASTON VILLA 6-1 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:29
Brighton snap up a corner, but Villa see any danger away. It has not been their day for the Seagulls.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:29
Goal Douglas Luiz Soares de Paulo
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:27
Yellow Card Jhon Jader Durán Palacio
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:26
We’re only two minutes into added time and it already feels like an age for Brighton. They have endured a long day in the Midlands.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:25
We're going to be in for eight added minutes in this one.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:23
Unai Emery will be pleased as punch with this performance. His opposite number? Not so much.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:22
Substitution Boubacar Bernard Kamara Youri Marion A. Tielemans
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:19
Substitution Jack Luca Hinshelwood Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:17
Assist Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:17
Save by Martinez! The Aston Villa shotstopper has not had much to do since Watkins got his third, but he gets a good touch now to divert an ambitious Brighton shot by Adingra away.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:16
Yellow Card Kaoru Mitoma
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:13
Mitoma sees a shot blocked now, as Brighton continue to toil in pursuit of a second. The Seagulls man has not been at his best today.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:11
Yellow Card Lewis Carl Dunk
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:11
Substitution Moussa Diaby Jhon Jader Durán Palacio
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:08
There’s such a liveliness to Villa, particularly around the back too. Mitoma gets on the wrong side of a challenge and they simply swarm him, cutting up Brighton’s attack.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:07
Aston Villa are on a run of nine consecutive home Premier League wins, their best home winning league run since a 13-game spell between February and October 1983. Villa could also become the ninth different team to have had a run of 10 or more consecutive home wins in the Premier League.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:06
The energy that Brighton had has vanished now. Time may well be too short to find three goals, let alone three against a Villa side brimming with the feelgood factor right now.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:04
Yellow Card Anssumane Fati Vieira
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:01
It’s a cruel game, football. Brighton looked like they could have pulled another one back when just two goals down. Now, the margin is back to three. It’s going to be a long trip back south.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:58
Another Fati shot now blocked. Villa are not on the ropes, so much as Brighton are simply trying their luck with a relentless energy now.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:57
Assist John McGinn
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:57
Joao Pedro is pulling the strings, and Fati is growing in confidence in front of him. The forward tucks a shot in now, blocked in the box. Villa are looking a little twitchy around the back.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:53
Substitution Solomon Benjamin March Simon Adingra
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:50
Assist João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:49
Villa look poised to make their first change of the game, with Ramsey stripped on the sidelines.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:49
Brighton started the first half with a little more edge than Villa, you may recall, and then it all fell apart in spectacular fashion. There is work to be done to see if they can get something out of this game at all.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:49
Yellow Card Ezri Konsa Ngoyo
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:48
Substitution Nicolò Zaniolo Jacob Matthew Ramsey
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:48
Aston Villa have started a season with four wins in their opening six Premier League games (L2) for a seventh time. They’ve only won five of their opening seven games twice before, in 1998-99 under John Gregory and 2020-21 under Dean Smith.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:47
There is a very lengthy check by VAR, to see firstly if the ball went out of play and then if Fati strayed from an offside position, but the goal will stand. That’s just the spark Brighton will want. Can they turn it into something more?
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:43
We are back underway at Villa Park. Will Aston Villa continue their demolition job, or can Brighton salvage something from the wreckage?
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:42
Goal Anssumane Fati Vieira
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:37
Substitution Pervis Josué Estupiñán Tenorio Tariq Kwame Nii-Lante Lamptey
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:36
Substitution Evan Joe Ferguson Anssumane Fati Vieira
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:36
Substitution Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:25
Unai Emery will have nothing but kind words to say for his players during the interval. That was very close to the complete performance. They will have to ensure there is no capitulation now though.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:24
An Ollie Watkins double and an own goal from Pervis Estupinan has Aston Villa in Premier League dreamland, as they find themselves in cruise control over Brighton. The hosts will have their eyes on three points now. At half-time at Villa Park, it is Aston Villa 3-0 Brighton and Hove Albion.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:23
HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 3-0 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:23
Veltman takes a blow to the head and needs some treatment as this half winds towards a close.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:22
They might have gone 10 minutes without a goal, but the Villa fans are still in fine voice. They are loving this encounter so far.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:21
De Zerbi, slumped in his chair in the dugout, looks like a man facing up to a chastening defeat. The Brighton boss is seldom cowed, but his body language makes for an uncomfortable sight.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:19
Brighton find their goal under siege once more, with McGinn close to adding a fourth to their torment. Mitoma manages to clear the lines after a nervy few moments.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:19
There are going to be four added minutes in this first half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:10
Digne sticks the free-kick straight into the wall, but Douglas Luiz goes very close with the follow-up, just whistling an ambitious shot over the top-left corner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:10
Another Aston Villa free-kick now, awarded for a foul by Estupinan which the defender strongly protests. It is just under 25 yards out from goal.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:09
Yellow Card Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:09
Mitoma, so often the bright spark in a Brighton side who can look on top of the world, dodges a card now after he brings down Kamara. There’s quite a bit of nip-and-tuck to this game now.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:05
An Aston Villa free-kick now, and the hosts play a neat bait-and-switch routine to loft it over the wall into the box. Diaby and Steele come together challenging for it, and the latter wins the free-kick.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:03
Yellow Card Lucas Digne
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:01
There’s been VAR checks for the latter two Villa goals, and it will be curious to see if Brighton have major complaints over both later on. But both decisions were made with relative speed, which suggests they were clear-cut enough.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:01
Chance for March! Brighton really need a lifeline in this game, and they get one on the break now. But the excellent header back into the box for the Seagulls winger sees him put it over the bar at close range.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:57
Own goal Pervis Josué Estupiñán Tenorio
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:56
Villa’s status as a hoodoo team for Brighton is being well and truly beefed up today. The Seagulls looked like they settled marginally better in the early exchanges, but their hosts have exploited them smartly.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:55
Brighton have lost three of their four Premier League away games against Aston Villa, with the exception being a 2-1 victory in November 2020.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:52
Goal Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:50
Almost a double! Watkins pivots and tries his luck from distance after Brighton’s defence falls off him. His effort just whistles past the far post. His confidence will be absolutely bursting.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:48
Brighton may have picked up some big results over the past few months, but their inability to keep clean sheets continues to bite them. Steele perhaps should have smothered that ball before it got to Watkins.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:45
Assist Matthew Stuart Cash
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:45
Oh, that is a wasted opportunity for Diaby. The Villa man is released on a run down the right and cuts back inside superbly, but his initial feint drags him away from goal, and defenders force him back.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:44
Chances are at a premium so far, but both sides clearly have danger men at hand. Ferguson has been terrific so far for Brighton this term, while Watkins remains a threat up front for Villa.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:44
Gilmour draws the foul again, this time off Kamara. The Brighton man, effectively the senior face within the defensive midfield line for the Seagulls, is making himself known so far.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:38
Speaking of Martinez, he makes the first proper save of the game now, as Estupinan lobs a shot at him from close-range. Brighton did excellent work to get the ball to the left-back in the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:38
Yellow Card Douglas Luiz Soares de Paulo
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:36
When these teams met last season of course, both boasted a World Cup winner in their ranks. Now, with Alexis Mac Allister gone, it is only Emi Martinez in goal for Villa who holds that claim.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:36
On paper, both sides look well-matched today, and in the almost cautious way they exchange play early on, you get the sense they are testing each other out in tentative fashion.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:33
We are underway in this Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion!
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:32
The sides are out and we are moments away from kick-off. Today’s referee is Andy Madley.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:31
The teams are about to take to the field at Villa Park. The atmosphere is building nicely ahead of this one, a match few may have expected to be such a big encounter so soon.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:20
Among both sides, there’s plenty of eye-catching names. But the one likely to be watched with vested interest is among the Brighton bench, in Ansu Fati. The Barcelona loanee is looking to recapture his best form, but can he truly do it with the Seagulls?
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:16
Historic form tips this one towards the hosts. Aston Villa have won their last four Premier League games against Brighton, scoring exactly two goals each time.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:12
Subs: Jan-Paul van Hecke, Tariq Lamptey, Mahmoud Dahoud, Ansu Fati, Bart Verbruggen, Simon Adingra, Joao Pedro, Carlos Balepa, Igor.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:12
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (4-2-3-1): Jason Steele; Joel Veltman. Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan; Jack Hinshelwood, Billy Gilmour; Solly March, Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma; Evan Ferguson.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:12
Subs: Clement Lenglet, Jacob Ramsey, Calum Chambers, Bertrand Traore, Jhon Duran, Robin Olsen, Leander Dendoncker, Diego Carlos, Youri Tielemans.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:12
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Douglas Luiz; John McGinn, Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo; Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:08
Brighton though make four tweaks to the team that picked up a 3-1 win over Bournemouth. Jason Steele is back in goal while Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood are included, with the latter making his first Premier League start.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:08
There’s no changes from the Villa side that claimed a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League last time out however, with the hosts keeping faith in the team that won at Stamford Bridge.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:08
But for Unai Emery and Roberto De Zerbi, this weekend presents an opportunity to atone for lacklustre exits from the EFL Cup in midweek. With defeats against Everton and Chelsea respectively, both Villa and Brighton will hope they can bounce back with the win.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:08
The surprise packages of the 2022-23 season, earning places in European competition with their scintillating form, both Villa and the Seagulls have started strongly again this term, and will be determined to ensure they are not one-trick ponies.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:00
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2023-24 Premier League season, as Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion meet in a crucial clash for both of their top-six aspirations at Villa Park!
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
11:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
