THE TOUGHEST GUY IN THE LEAGUE ALMOST HAD TO BE THE AMERICAN, HUH?

Keeper Friedel breaks EPL record with 167th straight appearance (AP)

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel made a record 167th consecutive Premier League appearance on Saturday, keeping a third straight clean sheet as his team drew 0-0 with Fulham.

The 37-year-old American, who started the streak in August 2004 with Blackburn, overtook the previous record set by Portsmouth goalkeeper David James in April.