Adebayo opened his tally with a header from close range after just 20 seconds before speedy winger Chiedozie Ogbene made it 2-0 after two minutes and 17 seconds.

Adebayo fired in his second of the night at the near post in the 42nd before completing his first top flight treble off a corner in the 56th.

In the history of the Premier League only Leicester City, in the opening two minutes against Derby County in 1998, had reached 2-0 quicker than Luton, who started the season as favourites for a quick return to the second tier.

The defeat left Brighton in eighth, level on 32 points with ninth-placed Manchester United, while Luton climbed one spot to 17th, a point clear of Everton who drew 0-0 at Fulham.

The evening had an emotional start before kickoff when Luton captain Tom Lockyer, recovering from a cardiac arrest during a match last month, walked around the pitch saluting the applauding crowd.