Chelsea boss Graham Potter endured a nightmare return to Falmer Stadium as Brighton thrashed the Blues to claim a first victory under their new manager Roberto de Zerbi.
In a chaotic opening, Leandro Trossard's calm finish put the home side in front after Thiago Silva - who had already produced two goalline clearances to deny the Seagulls - surrendered possession cheaply in his own half.
Two own goals extended Brighton's lead before the break, Ruben Loftus-Cheek putting through his own net from a Solly March corner before Trevoh Chalobah slid Pervis Estupinan's low cross past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Kai Havertz nodded in Conor Gallagher's exquisite cross to give the visitors hope two minutes after the interval, but a second-half Chelsea recovery failed to materialise.
Pascal Gross capped a miserable afternoon for Potter and his players with a close-range finish after Edouard Mendy - who had replaced the injured Arrizabalaga at half-time - parried Julio Enciso's shot into the German's path.
Potter later said: "Yes of course the scoreline and the defeat is a painful one. We didn't really recover. Once the crowd were so engaged it was a difficult one for us. The scorelline was painful. Brighton played a good game, especially in the first half.
"You can always look at goals and think you can do better. We have to take responsibility a bit in the first half. We have had a lot of football but that's no excuse. We couldn't quite get to that level. We didn't take our opportunities in attack and they did.
"We had some opportunities to attack them too but unfortunately we missed the pass or didn't execute, then the scoreline was a painful one. When you lose you can always do better."
On boos from Brighton fans, he added: "I have nothing to apologise or say sorry for. I think I did a good job at the club and left it in a good place but people are entitled to their opinions.
"It's part of the process. You have to suffer and feel pain in order to grow and get better. Nobody said we were the finished article. We have to take the pain today and learn from it."
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