After coming off the bench in the 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, James Milner has become the Premier League’s third-highest appearance-maker. Milner has now surpassed Frank Lampard’s 610th appearance, more than 20 years after making his league debut with Leeds. The 37-year-old accomplished the feat after being introduced during Liverpool’s lackluster performance away at Chelsea on Tuesday night.
James Milner surpasses Frank Lampard in Premier League history
With 10 minutes remaining, he was introduced with Cody Gakpo as part of a double substitution that saw Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez removed from the field. Milner joined Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2015. He has since made 221 Premier League games in a red shirt, more than at any of his previous clubs. (Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Man City).
In that time, he has 26 goals in all competitions for the Reds. 19 have come from 12 yards as he has established himself as one of the club’s most prolific penalty-takers. Milner is the only active player in the top 30 of the Premier League’s all-time list. It was with colleague and friend Jordan Henderson coming in second with 421 appearances.
The veteran still has a long way to go to catch Gareth Barry’s total of 652, as the midfielder has yet to sign a contract extension that will expire this summer. He is also 22 games behind second-placed Ryan Giggs (632). And will need another season in the Premier League to climb the ladder higher.
And, having seen his role at Liverpool diminish in his later years, Milner would almost probably need to find more regular play somewhere if he is to surpass Barry’s record-breaking 652 appearances.
