Andy Robertson sends emotional message to James Milner after record-breaking development
Andy Robertson has paid tribute to James Milner on social media after he became the record appearance-holder in Premier League history on Saturday.
Milner, 40, made his record-breaking 654th Premier League appearance as Brighton picked up three points at Brentford with a 2-0 win.
The versatile midfielder has featured for six different clubs in the top-flight since his debut in the competition for Leeds United back in 2002.
He equalled Gareth Barry’s record on 11 February against Aston Villa, but is now the outright holder after starting and putting in an 89-minute shift at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Milner has won the Premier League title three times in his career, with the last coming for Liverpool in 2020, where he struck up a strong friendship with Reds legend Robertson before leaving for Brighton in 2023.
Andy Robertson praises James Milner on Instagram as PL record broken
Milner and Robertson were teammates at Liverpool for six years between 2017 and 2023, as they helped the club to win every trophy on offer alongside that top-flight triumph.
The pair played 194 games together during that spell, and have maintained a close relationship off the pitch despite playing for different clubs in the last two-and-a-half years.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday after he made Premier League history, Robertson dedicated a post to Milner and wrote a heartfelt caption to his friend and former teammate.
The Scotland international admitted that he feels “very lucky” to have shared a dressing room with the 40-year-old for as long as he did, and said he was “proud” to call him a friend.
His message was liked by Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones, among others, who each also once played alongside Milner.
Which players are alongside Milner in the top 10 for Premier League appearances?
Milner has overtaken former Everton, Aston Villa and Man City midfielder Barry, who played 653 times in the Premier League between 1998 and 2018.
Joining them in the top five are Ryan Giggs (632), Frank Lampard (609) and David James (572), while Gary Speed is sixth with 535 appearances.
Emile Heskey also makes the list in eighth, with 516 Premier League outings to his name, and Mark Schwarzer (514), Jamie Carragher (508), and Phil Neville (504) prop up a very well-decorated top 10 list.