Chris: Villa finished 7th last season, which is their best finish in about 15 years and now their fans crowing about their "power". Sit down and come back when you've won something.

Paul: After this Brighton will have lost 3 of their last 4, and with Marseille, Liverpool, Man City and Ajax up next they could be forming the wrong kind of habit.

Oliver: It feels like we've entered a new era of tactical football in the EPL with some of the managers we now have (inc. Emery and De Zerbi, Klopp, Pep, Arteta, Ange, Howe) and you can really see that it's all about the style of play and philosophy, not individual talent.

Kaoru Mitoma does well to beat Matty Cash to the ball on the left but John McGinn helps his team-mate out by immediately winning possession for Villa. He's been excellent today.

Lucy Ward
Former Leeds striker on TNT Sports

Roberto de Zerbi wants to see a reaction from his players. In the first half Unai Emery outwitted him and I don't think that happens very often.

Emery predicts how games are going and knows how it is going to happen but I don't think anyone could have predicted that first half!

Tariq Lamptey, who usually plays on the right, comes on at left-back.

It's his birthday today too so he won't fancy a 3-0 defeat.

Image source, PA Media

Three changes for Brighton which isn't surprising at all.

On comes Tariq Lamptey, Joao Pedro, Ansu Fati.

Pervis Estupinan, Evan Ferguson and Danny Welbeck are off.

Off we go again at Villa Park. The good news for Brighton is it can't get any worse. Can it?

CK: Villa getting the game out of the way so they don't have to worry about the shirts for another 45 minutes!

Fletch: Villa have been great but two of their goals should probably be disallowed .

Charlie: Errors were made in my FPL.

Peter Crouch
Ex-England striker on TNT Sports

Image source, Getty Images

It was a perfect scenario for him [Watkins]. He is making little movements and getting in time and time again.

They are just cutting them open every time at will.

Joe Cole
Ex-Chelsea and England midfielder on TNT Sports

Ollie Watkins has been a thorn in the side of Brighton. The [running in behind] was on all the time. Brighton were at sixes and sevens on many occasions.

[The third goal is] baffling. It is the crucial moment in the play [the coming together between Douglas Luiz and Solly March]. Luiz knows what he is doing there.

Karen Bardsley
Former England and Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

My goodness they've been phenomenal Aston Villa here this afternoon.

Moving the ball so quickly, being really front-footed, aggressive, forcing the turnovers and really sloppy play from Brighton that we've not seen and capitalising where they needed it most.

Image source, Getty Images

Ollie Watkins has netted in each of his last four Premier League appearances against Brighton.

This is also his fourth double in the Premier League.

He has only scored one Premier League hat-trick in Villa's 7-2 home win over Liverpool on 4 October 2020.

Watkins (42 goals) is now joint-fifth alongside Christian Benteke in Villa's leading Premier League goalscorers.

Andy: This game is done, turned back over to the Ryder Cup.

Tom: Some supporters from the "big teams" of the past couple of decades are struggling to accept that Villa are a power player now. They've been quietly building a squad of world class players over the last few seasons and have a world class coach in Emery. It's not that surprising seeing them play like this- well, to anyone who understands football at least.

max: I say this without being hyperbolic, Villa have been sensational.

Brighton were trailing by three or more goals within the first 30 minutes of a Premier League game for the first time.

Aston Villa's three-goal lead was the fastest recorded so far this season.

Image source, Getty Images

An excellent first half from Villa. Not so good for Brighton.

Adam Webster needs a bit of treatment for a head clash with Nicolo Zaniolo.

After that, the referee is likely to blow the whistle. We're deep into stoppage-time now.

Sean: Villa aren't even breaking a sweat. Just as well, really...

Ben: Not the first time this season Brighton have felt a man short. Who's to say they won't score a couple or more with a change at half time.

Image source, Getty Images

Kaoru Mitoma cuts in off the right... and curls it straight out for a goal kick.

Ouch.

Lucy Ward
Former Leeds striker on TNT Sports

They have had a lot of joy this season, Brighton fans. But they know that along with the joy, sometimes they concede goals like this.

[Villa] have been quick, they've been aggressive and dynamic in wide areas. They have been really impressive here, Villa.

Ollie Watkins brings a high ball down then spins away superbly on the left.

He tees up Nicolo Zaniolo in the middle but his first-time strike is blocked.

Villa keep the ball and Zaniolo eventually strokes it into Jason Steele's grateful arms.