James Milner sets Premier League appearance record as Brighton beat Brentford
james milner marked a milestone as Brighton beat Brentford 2-0 and he broke the top-flight appearance record, a moment that lands amid a hectic Premier League weekend of title hunts and surprise results. The milestone matters now because it intersects with shifting fortunes at the top and late twists at Stamford Bridge and elsewhere.
James Milner's milestone at Brentford
The 40-year-old former England midfielder was named in Fabian Hurzeler's starting XI for what was described as his 654th Premier League match, surpassing the record set by Gareth Barry in Brighton's 2-0 win at Brentford. Milner's start at Brentford was his first Premier League start since 30 December at West Ham, and he said his "drive and hunger" is the reason he has broken the appearance record. He told teammates and fans he still feels he can contribute minutes, has been frustrated this year by limited game time, and planned to go for a "meal with the family" to celebrate the achievement.
Career span, debut and the clubs that followed
Milner made his debut as a 16-year-old for Leeds in 2002 and his Premier League debut date is listed as November 10, 2002. He has represented Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool in the top flight; he played for Aston Villa from 2008 to 2010. One account noted the milestone comes after 23 seasons and across six different clubs.
What Milner and Hurzeler said about experience and leadership
Milner emphasised that he is "surrounded by a lot of young lads" and wants to contribute to their careers, push them and help them reach the highest level quickly. He reflected on how the game has changed since 2002, saying "the first tackle was free" when he came through as a winger and that he feels blessed to have played in two different eras under managers such as Terry Venables, Sir Bobby Robson, Huzerlers, Jurgen Klopps and Roberto di Zerbis. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler called Milner a "role model on and off the pitch" and added that Milner was a leader who communicated well, understands the game, is reliable and had waited a long time for this moment.
On-pitch impact: first win in six and a first start in eight
One match report described Milner's performance as calm and mature, marshalling the midfield and instructing team-mates through Brighton's first win in six and his first start in eight games. Milner had equalled the appearance record in the game at Aston Villa on 11 February before breaking it at Brentford.
Weekend roundup: Man City, Chelsea and other results
Elsewhere, Manchester City beat Newcastle and moved within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. Nico O'Reilly scored twice in that game, with Lewis Hall's goal sandwiched between O'Reilly's finishes. The Gunners are due to play north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday, and one live update noted there would be four more important Premier League games coming up and that the north London derby "could be a cracker. "
Other listed results from the weekend included Chelsea 1-1 Burnley, Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds and West Ham 0-0 Bournemouth. Commentary from the weekend said Chelsea had once more "set fire" to points at the Bridge after being held in stoppage time, that all three promoted sides had come from behind to take points off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and that Liam Rosenior and Scott Parker had talked up the talent in Chelsea's squad. It was also noted that fans had chanted "Chelsea, champions" before the game and that a Club World Cup win in the summer followed an earlier campaign in which the club outclassed Conference League opponents, with a deep FA Cup run this season described as still possible.
Manager voices on City's win and Newcastle's profile
Manchester City's manager described the result as "massive, " praised Newcastle's physicality and speed up front and their physicality in midfield, and said 70% of his players had never been in that close title-race situation. He said the club enjoyed the best crowd of the year, planned to rest for three days before their trip to Leeds, and referenced a Champions League match in which Newcastle were 5-0 up at half-time. He praised Nico O'Reilly for supplying necessary physicality in midfield and highlighted academy graduates Nico, Phil Foden and Rico Lewis. He added that without Erling Haaland the performance would not have been possible, that the team must improve the final pass to stay in the title race, and warned of another tough meeting with Newcastle in the FA Cup after winning three times in a row against them. Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott also commented that young players want to play anywhere to get minutes, that being trusted in an incredible team builds confidence and that a player can become "undroppable" by showing athleticism and recovery.
Micah Richards was quoted under the headline "You knew Milner would be a success, " reflecting wider admiration for Milner's longevity and career.
