How James Milner broke Premier League's appearances record
james milner made his record-breaking 654th Premier League appearance when he was named in Brighton's starting XI at Brentford, a milestone that arrived during a match in which Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck scored for the visitors.
James Milner sets new landmark at Brentford
Milner's 654th top-flight game came as Brighton visited Brentford, where goals from Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck put Brighton on course for an important away win; the match was described in live coverage of the day's fixtures. He had previously equalled Gareth Barry's tally of 653 when he came off the bench for Brighton against Aston Villa on Feb. 11, and his Premier League debut dates back to a first appearance for Leeds United in November 2002.
Klopp: 'Nothing would've happened without him'
Jürgen Klopp said Milner's achievement was "just like landing on the moon" and called being part of something "for eternity" really special, praising the 40-year-old's discipline and professionalism. Klopp, who managed Milner at Liverpool, credited him with helping secure multiple trophies during their time together, including the club's 2020 Premier League title and the 2019 Champions League.
Milner's career path and versatility on the pitch
Across a 24-year Premier League career, Milner has appeared for Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, and he has 61 England caps. Klopp noted Milner played in every out-field position during his career, including a season at left-back in 2016-17 and earlier years on the wing at Leeds, an adaptability that extended his top-flight longevity.
Immediate aftermath and the weekend schedule
The Brentford fixture left Brighton seeking only a third away league win of the season after goals from Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck helped them on Saturday; other matches slated for the day included West Ham v Bournemouth at 17: 30 and Man City hosting Newcastle at 20: 00. With the appearance record now set, attention will move to the remaining fixtures on the day and ongoing Premier League action.
