Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' weekly column where Nick Wright mixes statistics with insight to highlight the Premier League stories you need to know. This edition covers three main topics: Bruno Fernandes' chase for an assist record, the search for a right‑back solution by manager Arne Slot, and a player to keep an eye on this weekend.
Bruno Fernandes has edged tantalisingly close to matching a historic Premier League assist tally. After setting up Benjamin Sesko's swift finish in United's 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday, the Portuguese midfielder found himself just one assist away from equalling the joint‑record held by Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20) and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry (2002/03). With four league fixtures remaining – Liverpool on Super Sunday, followed by matches against Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton – Fernandes has a realistic chance of surpassing those figures and finishing the campaign with 22 assists.
Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, Fernandes has become United’s primary creative outlet. His current haul of 19 assists is the highest single‑season total of his career and far exceeds any other player’s output this term.
The gap is striking: the next best figures belong to Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, each with ten assists, less than half of Fernandes’ total. The disparity extends to broader creative metrics as well. Fernandes has crafted 114 chances, more than double the 61 recorded by Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who sit second. In the Opta‑defined "big chances created" category he leads with 28, again well ahead of his peers.
A significant portion of his assists has come from set‑piece situations – ten of the 19 have originated from free‑kicks or corners – whereas Henry and De Bruyne relied far less on dead‑ball deliveries for their record‑breaking tallies. Nevertheless, Fernandes is not merely a dead‑ball specialist. He also tops the league for open‑play chances created, underscoring his all‑round ability to generate opportunities from any part of the pitch. His expected assists (xA) metric, which measures the quality of chances rather than just the final pass, is the highest any player has posted since his Premier League debut, highlighting the genuine threat he poses even when a teammate fails to finish.
One of the most memorable moments of the season came at Anfield in October, when Fernandes delivered a perfectly weighted volleyed cross from the second‑phase corner routine, allowing Harry Maguire to head home the winning goal. A similar decisive contribution this weekend would see him equal a 23‑year‑old record and strengthen his case for the season’s Player of the Year award.
Turning to Liverpool, manager Arne Slot continues to experiment with his right‑back options. Curtis Jones, traditionally a central midfielder, has been thrust into the role on several occasions this season, most notably against Crystal Palace and Everton. Jones became the sixth Liverpool player to start at right‑back in the Premier League this campaign, joining the likes of Connor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo.
Slot praised Jones, noting his limited experience in the position but commending his performance as "a big compliment" to the player. While Jones still has much to learn as a full‑back, his comfort on the ball and willingness to step into central areas have added a new dimension to Liverpool’s build‑up play.
He even provided a through‑ball assist for Andrew Robertson’s goal against Palace, a pass that originated from a midfield position after a swift counter‑attack. That assist was one of 149 passes completed by Liverpool across the two games, the highest total by any individual player in that span.
Veteran defender Virgil van Dijk lauded Jones’s impact, calling his display against Everton "outstanding" and highlighting how his composure in possession has been a game‑changing factor. Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, who has found the net three times in his last four outings, will face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
His recent form suggests he could be a hot prospect in the upcoming transfer window. The weekend’s fixture list is packed with high‑profile clashes.
Arsenal take on Fulham in the Saturday Night Football slot, with Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event beginning coverage at 5 p.m. ahead of the 5:30 p.m.
kick‑off. Earlier, Bournemouth meet Crystal Palace at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports+, providing a prelude to the Super Sunday showdown between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford, which starts at 3:30 p.m.
On Monday, Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest for a 3 p.m. encounter, followed by Everton’s 8 p.m. clash with Manchester City, with Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event beginning coverage at 6:30 p.m.
A lingering question for Arsenal supporters is whether there remains any optimism in the title race against Manchester City. In a previous column, the potential impact of a new injury to Kai Havertz was examined, further complicating the Gunners’ challenge.
Finally, readers are reminded of the ongoing Super 6 competition, offering a chance to win £250,000 with free entry.