American Friedel breaks Premier record

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — American goalkeeper Brad Friedel of Aston Villa made a record 167th consecutive Premier League appearance Saturday against Fulham.

The 37-year-old, who started the streak in August 2004 with Blackburn, overtook the previous record set by Portsmouth's David James in April. He earned a third straight shutout in the 0-0 draw.

"Is it nice that I have been able to get a run of games? Yes, absolutely, but I hope to have many more games ahead of me," Friedel said. "I have never appeared in a game hoping to attain an appearance record. I appear because I am under contract to play football, and I love football.

"It really hadn't entered my mind until recently when the statisticians said I have a chance to break the record."

Work permit issues forced Friedel to bounce around Europe and the United States — playing for Galatasary, Brondby and the Columbus Crew — before finally joining Liverpool in December 1997.

He struggled to start for the Anfield team and in 2000 joined Blackburn, where he spent eight years before seeking a new challenge at Villa.