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Liverpool's James Milner breaks Peter Crouch's Premier League sub record

  /  autty

James Milner has broken the record for the most substitute appearances in the Premier League - and was promptly congratulated by the man he overtook.

The Liverpool man, 35, was brought off the bench for the 159th time in his lengthy career in the English top-flight during their 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday lunchtime.

He replaced Peter Crouch as the Premier League's most subbed on player and the former striker sent a tongue-in-cheek tweet.

Crouch posted: 'Congrats to @JamesMilner on beating my record of @premierleague substitute appearances. It's the one they all want!'

Milner had equalled the record back on March 15 when Jurgen Klopp brought him on for Georginio Wijnaldum in the 67th minute of their 1-0 win over Wolves at Molineux.

And former Leeds United, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Man City midfielder Milner made history on Saturday when he replaced Diogo Jota on 58 minutes at Anfield. It was Milner's 562nd game in the competition.

Crouch, who played for Villa, Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Tottenham, Stoke and Burnley, racked up 158 substitute appearances in a total of 467 games.

Most of the players in the top 10 of the Premier League's most frequent substitutes have now retired or are playing elsewhere.

Third on the list with 149 is Jermain Defoe, now playing with Scottish Premiership champions Rangers at the age of 38.

Southampton's Shane Long, 34, has been brought on 148 times but won't add to his total this season as he is currently out on loan at Bournemouth in the Championship.

Shola Ameobi was brought off the bench 142 times and Carlton Cole 129 times.

Theo Walcott of Southampton is the next highest active Premier League player on 123 substitute appearances and the 32-year-old will likely overtake a few more before he hangs up his boots.

Joe Cole is also on 123, followed by Nwankwo Kanu on 118 and Ryan Giggs on 110.