Barry joins James at top of EPL starters table

Everton midfielder Gareth Barry equalled the record for Premier League starts when he took his place in the Merseyside derby on Thursday morning (AEST).

Everton Gareth Barry Premier League

Everton midfielder Gareth Barry Source: AAP

Here, Press Association Sport looks at the five most prolific starters since the era began in 1992.

David James - 571 starts: A $1.84 million signing from Watford, James made his Liverpool debut at the very start of the Premier League era against Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest. He was a familiar face for the next 18 seasons, taking in spells at Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City and Portsmouth and keeping 169 clean sheets along the way - a record only recently beaten by Petr Cech.

First Premier League start, for Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, 16 August 1992.

Gareth Barry - 571: A versatile performer whose Premier League career began in 1998 as a ball-playing defender at Aston Villa and has also taken in stints at left-back, left-midfield and, most frequently, midfield anchor. Played the vast majority of his football in 12 years at Villa before a big-money move to Manchester City and an ongoing Indian summer with Everton.

First Premier League start, for Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday, 2 May 1998.

Frank Lampard - 546: Lampard made his name at boyhood club West Ham and signed off from English football with Manchester City, but his is a name forever linked with Chelsea, where he became the club's record goalscorer. For a man whose eye for goal was so essential to his game, he fittingly netted in his final outing against Southampton in May 2015.

First Premier League start, for West Ham v Arsenal, 17 August 1996.

Ryan Giggs - 522: The definitive player of the Premier League era and the symbol of Manchester United's rise to dominance. Giggs had already broken into the United side in the old First Division and went on to claim 13 titles with the Red Devils, racking up a staggering 46,433 minutes of Premier League football.

First Premier League start, v Sheffield United, 15 August 1992.

Gary Speed - 521: When Speed lined up on the first day of the newly-formed Premier League, he did so as part of a Leeds United side who had won the previous season's title. He never laid hands on the new trophy but carved out a fine career that saw him join Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers.

First Premier League start, v Wimbledon, 15 August 1992.


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3 min read
Published 21 April 2016 6:52am
Updated 21 April 2016 2:45pm
Source: PA Sport


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