James Milner equals Ryan Giggs's EPL appearance tally (1 Viewer)

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James Milner has climbed to joint-second place in the Premier League's all-time appearance charts following his participation in Brighton & Hove Albion's goalless draw against West Ham United on Tuesday night.

The versatile midfielder, set to turn 38 on Thursday, joined Brighton last summer as a free agent from Liverpool and has been a consistent presence under manager Roberto De Zerbi, making 18 appearances in various competitions this season.

Out of those, thirteen have been in the Premier League, with Milner earning his ninth start for Brighton in the recent match at the London Stadium. His total tally now stands at 632 Premier League appearances since his debut at the age of 16 for Leeds United against West Ham on November 10, 2002 – making him the second-youngest player in the division at that time.

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Having started his career at Leeds and played for various clubs including Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool, Milner continues to showcase his skills at Brighton this season. He shares the joint-second spot with Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, both having made 632 Premier League appearances during their illustrious careers.

However, Milner is still 21 appearances shy of the all-time record held by his former teammate Gareth Barry, who played for Aston Villa, Man City, and England, and concluded his career with 653 Premier League appearances.

Despite the impressive feat, Milner won't have the opportunity to challenge or surpass Barry's record this season, as Brighton only has 18 league matches remaining in the current 2023-24 campaign. Milner's contract with Brighton is set to expire at the end of the season, although there is an option for the club to trigger a one-year extension.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed his admiration for Milner after the West Ham draw, stating to BBC Sport,
"He's a great asset for us. We're proud to have him in our team."
"He's improving because in his physical condition he can play 90 minutes with the same intensity and energy. We need him to reach our target, to fight to reach the higher position of the table."