Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' weekly column where Nick Wright mixes statistics with personal insight to highlight the Premier League stories that matter most. This edition covers three main topics: Bruno Fernandes' chase for an assist record, the search for a right‑back solution by Liverpool manager Arne Slot, and a player worth keeping an eye on this weekend.
Bruno Fernandes has edged tantalisingly close to equalling two historic Premier League assist tallies. In Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday, the Portuguese midfielder supplied the decisive pass for Benjamin Sesko's breakaway goal. That assist lifted Fernandes to 19 for the season, just one short of the 20‑assist benchmark set by Kevin De Bruyne for Manchester City in 2019‑20 and Thierry Henry for Arsenal in 2002‑03.
With four league fixtures remaining – Liverpool, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton – the Portuguese playmaker has a realistic chance of surpassing both legends if he maintains his current output. Since arriving from Sporting in January 2020, Fernandes has become United's creative engine, but this campaign marks his most prolific season in terms of assists. Should he continue at his present rate, he could finish with 22 assists, comfortably outstripping the current leaders. The numbers illustrate just how dominant he has been: his 19 assists are almost double the next best total, with Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen each on ten.
The gap widens further when looking at chances created – Fernandes has crafted 114 opportunities, far ahead of Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who sit on 61 each. Even in the Opta‑defined "big chances created" category, he leads with 28. A significant portion of his assist tally stems from set‑pieces. Ten of his 19 assists have come directly from free‑kicks or corners, whereas Henry and De Bruyne relied on only two and three set‑piece assists respectively to reach their records.
Nonetheless, Fernandes is not merely a dead‑ball specialist; he also tops the league for open‑play chances created, underscoring his all‑round creativity. Moreover, his expected assists (xA) – a metric that gauges the quality of chances a player generates – are the highest ever recorded by any player since his Premier League debut, indicating that his contributions are not just plentiful but also of exceptional quality. One of the most memorable moments of Fernandes' season arrived at Anfield in October, when his expertly curled cross from a second‑phase corner found Harry Maguire, who headed home the winner. Such set‑piece brilliance could see him equal a 23‑year‑old record and bolster his case for the season’s Player of the Year award.
Switching focus to Liverpool, manager Arne Slot continues to experiment with his defensive options. Curtis Jones, traditionally a central midfielder, has been thrust into the right‑back role on several occasions this season, becoming the sixth Liverpool player to start there in the Premier League.
Slot praised Jones, noting that he "has hardly played in that position in his career" but commended his performance as a "big compliment" to the team. While Jones lacks the natural pedigree of a full‑back, his comfort on the ball and willingness to adapt have added a new dimension to Liverpool’s build‑up play. His passing range was on full display when he delivered a precise through‑ball that unlocked Andrew Robertson for a goal against Crystal Palace – a pass that originated from a midfield position after a swift counter‑attack.
Across the two games, Liverpool recorded 149 passes, the highest for any player, highlighting Jones' influence. Veteran centre‑back Virgil van Dijk also weighed in, describing Jones as "outstanding against Everton," particularly in possession, where he acted as a game‑changer.
The consensus suggests that Liverpool may benefit from retaining Jones in this hybrid role, at least until a specialist right‑back emerges. Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, who has netted three times in his last four outings, is set to face Crystal Palace on Sunday. His form makes him a potential target in the upcoming transfer window.
Meanwhile, the Saturday Night Football showdown pits Arsenal against Fulham, with Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event providing coverage from 5 p.m. The earlier Super Sunday fixtures feature Manchester United versus Liverpool at Old Trafford (kick‑off 3.30 p.m.) and Bournemouth versus Crystal Palace on Sky Sports+ at 2 p.m. Looking ahead to Monday, Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest for a 3 p.m.
clash, followed by Everton’s 8 p.m. encounter with Manchester City, broadcast from 6.30 p.m. on Sky Sports platforms.
A lingering question remains for Arsenal fans: can the Gunners realistically challenge Manchester City for the title in an attacking showdown? Last week’s column explored this topic, but a fresh injury to Kai Havertz has further complicated their pursuit. Finally, for those seeking extra excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available now.