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Former Liverpool midfielder James Milner has equaled the Premier League appearance record after he came on for Brighton against Aston Villa, playing his 653rd game in the competition.
After coming on against another of his old sides, Milner moved level with Gareth Barry. He could move into the number one spot when Brighton faces Brentford, in the game after it comes to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Milner replaced Carlos Baleba in the first half at Villa Park. It did not appear as if the Cameroonian international was injured, but he had picked up a very early caution and was treading a tightrope.
Shortly after coming on, Milner clattered into Amadou Onana but escaped a booking. The 40-year-old is the oldest player in the Premier League this season, three years older than the second man on the list, Everton full-back Seamus Coleman.
After Milner and Barry, another former Liverpool player makes the top five. David James, the only goalkeeper, is behind Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard.
Barry retired in August 2020, having made 833 appearances in total across all competitions. He was 38 when he hung up his boots.
The ex-Everton and Manchester City man won one Premier League title in 2012 and lifted the FA Cup the previous season.
He made 53 appearances for England between 2000 and 2012.
Milner started his senior career with Leeds United in 2002.
He then played for Newcastle United between 2004 and 2008, before moving to Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and then Brighton.
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"I think that will be a special thing for him but he is focused on top of that on the ambitions from the club as well. He wants to be always successful like he was his whole life," Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said ahead of the game.
"He is a driver of this winning mentality and I think it's very important to have these kind of players in the squad.
"They know how to win, they know what it needs to win, how you need to prepare a game, how you react in bad phases like on bad runs we have at the moment."
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