Lauren Hemp had signed a new contract with City in the week before the visit to BrightonSix second-half goals gave Manchester City an emphatic third straight win in the Women's Super League at Brighton.
Victoria Williams' 48th-minute own goal opened the floodgates, with Lauren Hemp doubling the lead with a fine chip.
Georgia Stanway made it 3-0 before Laura Coombs capitalised on a defensive mistake for a fourth in seven minutes.
Goals from Hayley Raso and Vicky Losada extended the lead to see City swap places with Brighton to move fifth in the table.
City were bolstered by the presence of Lucy Bronze in the starting line-up, the England defender playing for the first time this season following knee surgery.
England captain Steph Houghton also came off the substitute's bench for her first appearance since September.
Forward Hemp, who had recently signed a new two-year contract, was instrumental in the first goal when her low cross was diverted into the bottom corner by Williams. The 21-year-old then cut in off the left wing to chip the ball over Brighton goalkeeper Megan Walsh for her fifth goal of the season.
Stanway latched onto a blocked shot of her own to shoot home from inside the area for the third and Coombs fired in from long range after Brighton defender Danielle Bowman gave the ball away to make it 4-0 to City inside the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Raso went one-on-one with Walsh to make it 5-0 to City and Losada's deflected chip from the edge of the area capped a resounding win for Gareth Taylor's side.
Line-ups
Brighton Women
Formation 4-4-2
1Walsh
6Le Tissier5Kerkdijk20Williams2Koivisto
16Brazil7Whelan8Connolly15Green
10Kaagman18Carter
1Walsh6Le Tissier5KerkdijkSubstituted forBowmanat 45'minutes20WilliamsSubstituted forKullbergat 74'minutes2Koivisto16Brazil7WhelanBooked at 58mins8ConnollySubstituted forSimpkinsat 84'minutes15Green10KaagmanSubstituted forSymondsat 58'minutes18CarterBooked at 29minsSubstituted forRobinsonat 84'minutesSubstitutes
3Gibbons4Bowman12Bance17Kullberg19Simpkins21Zigiotti Olme22Robinson24Symonds40StartupMan City Women
Formation 4-3-3
34Benameur
20Bronze33Kennedy5Greenwood3Stokes
7Coombs24Walsh10Stanway
13Raso18White15Hemp
34Benameur20BronzeSubstituted forMaceat 69'minutes33Kennedy5GreenwoodSubstituted forHoughtonat 69'minutes3StokesSubstituted forLosadaat 60'minutes7Coombs24WalshSubstituted forAngeldahlat 69'minutes10Stanway13Raso18White15HempSubstituted forBeckieat 60'minutesSubstitutes
6Houghton8Scott11Beckie12Angeldahl17Losada30Mace35KeatingReferee:Emily HeaslipAttendance:1,345Live Text
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0, Manchester City Women 6.
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0, Manchester City Women 6.
Foul by Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women).
Emma Kullberg (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Ellen White (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hayley Raso.
Laura Coombs (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Emily Simpkins (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Attempt blocked. Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alanna Kennedy.
Foul by Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women).
Emma Koivisto (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Laura Coombs.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Katie Robinson replaces Danielle Carter.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Emily Simpkins replaces Megan Connolly.
Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Aileen Whelan (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Foul by Ellen White (Manchester City Women).
Emma Kullberg (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Janine Beckie.
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0, Manchester City Women 6. Vicky Losada (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ruby Mace.
