Sarr netted in each half while Trevoh Chalobah was also on target for Oliver Glasner’s side, which made it back-to-back wins on the road and is now unbeaten in five league games.

Palace struck twice in the space of six first-half minutes, with Chalobah breaking the deadlock from close range before Sarr’s header doubled the advantage.

Brighton, which was often thwarted by the excellent Dean Henderson in the Eagles goal, controlled large periods of the second half, but Sarr’s second goal nine minutes from time condemned Fabian Hurzeler’s side to a first home defeat of the season.

An unfortunate own goal from Marc Guehi proved mere consolation for Brighton, which is ninth on the table, while Palace moved up to 15th.

Palace ended a run of six winless Premier League games against Brighton, and has now won successive league away matches for the first time since April 2023.

Chalobah became the first Palace defender to score away from home against the Seagulls in the Premier League.

Sarr, who assisted the opener, has now scored and assisted in an any league game for the second time this season, with only Mohamed Salah producing more such displays.

Glasner said their victory was "the best Christmas gift" Palace could give its supporters.

"All the credit goes to the players," he said. "We defended compact, we didn't give them many situations.

"They changed their system, and we struggled to put pressure on the ball. In this phase, we needed Dean, who made two or three big saves. It was a very positive performance.

"We knew that if we were patient, we would get better performances. Some players were not fit, new signings, but we didn't want to talk about this and look to be making excuses. We are getting more confident about how we want to play.

"It was always clear to us that we would get better results. But it is not time to relax, it is time to keep going.

"It's a very important game for our fans and I told the players it was the best Christmas gift we could give them because they are always behind us."

"It's absolutely massive," Henderson added.

"The fans have been patient with us this season. We are in a false position, we have great players, and today it all clicked.

"We knew they would come out [in the second half] and it would be hard. Luckily, I helped the team today. When you're in that moment, you feel good, you feel unbeatable."

Meanwhile, Brighton is now without a victory in four matches, its longest winless streak since Hurzeler took charge.

"The goals we conceded are too easy. You can't concede these easy goals," he said.

"I think we showed a good reaction in the second half, we had some big chances, but then the game is getting more and more difficult because they are getting more and more compact.

"In the end, we had the chances. I think the goalkeeper saved two or three big chances, but we were not clinical enough in the final third. We missed the killer instinct to get the goal."