Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' weekly column where Nick Wright blends statistics with opinion to highlight the Premier League's most compelling narratives. This edition covers three main topics: Bruno Fernandes' pursuit of 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 close to matching a historic Premier League assist tally after delivering the decisive pass for Benjamin Šeško's breakaway strike in Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday.
That assist put him just one contribution shy of the 20‑assist benchmark set by Kevin De Bruyne for Manchester City in the 2019‑20 season and by Thierry Henry for Arsenal in 2002‑03. With four league fixtures remaining – Liverpool, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton – Fernandes has a realistic chance of surpassing both legends. Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, Fernandes has evolved into United's creative engine. His current haul of 19 assists represents a personal best for a single campaign and is already almost double the next best figure in the division.
Rayan Cherki of Manchester City and Jarrod Bowen of West Ham trail far behind with ten each. In the broader creative metrics, Fernandes dominates: he has fashioned 114 chances, a full 53 more than the nearest rivals, Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) and Declan Rice (Arsenal) who sit at 61. His tally of "big chances" – those with a high probability of yielding a goal – stands at 28, again well ahead of the competition. A significant portion of Fernandes' assist total stems from set‑piece situations.
Ten of his 19 assists have come from free‑kicks or corners, compared with just two and three for Henry and De Bruyne respectively when they set their records. Yet Fernandes is not merely a dead‑ball specialist; he also leads the league in open‑play chances created, underscoring his all‑round playmaking ability. Moreover, advanced metrics such as expected assists (xA) place him at the top of the league, indicating that the quality of his chances is superior to any other player since his debut.
One of the most memorable moments of his season arrived at Anfield in October, when Fernandes delivered a perfectly weighted volleyed cross from the second‑phase of a corner. Harry Maguire met the ball with a header to secure United's win. Replicating such a contribution against Liverpool this Sunday would not only tie the long‑standing record but also strengthen his case for the Premier League Player of the Year award.
The column also turns its attention to Liverpool's right‑back dilemma. While Curtis Jones is unlikely to become a permanent solution, his recent performances have earned him a starting berth against United after impressing in fixtures against Crystal Palace and Everton. Jones becomes the sixth Liverpool player this season to occupy the right‑back slot in the Premier League, following Connor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo.
Manager Arne Slot praised Jones, noting, "He has hardly played in that position in his career, but the way he does it is a big compliment." Although a natural midfielder, Jones has adapted well, contributing to Liverpool's possession play and even providing a through‑ball assist for Andrew Robertson's goal against Palace. That pass, originating from a midfield position after a swift counter‑attack, was one of 149 passes he completed across two games – the highest total by any Liverpool player in that span. His composure under pressure and willingness to drift into central zones have helped smooth Liverpool's build‑up, a fact acknowledged by Virgil van Dijk, who described Jones as "outstanding" against Everton, especially in possession. Further down the fixture list, Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi, who has netted three times in his last four outings, will face Crystal Palace on Sunday and is expected to attract interest in the upcoming transfer window.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Fulham will clash in the Saturday Night Football slot, with coverage beginning on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event at 5 p.m. ahead of the 5.30 p.m. kick‑off. The day's schedule continues with Bournemouth versus Crystal Palace at 2 p.m.
on Sky Sports+, followed by the marquee Super Sunday showdown between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford, kicking off at 3.30 p.m. On Monday, Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest for a 3 p.m.
encounter, and later that evening Everton meet Manchester City for the 8 p.m. fixture, with pre‑match coverage starting at 6.30 p.m. on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
Looking ahead, Arsenal's title hopes remain fragile. A recent column examined their prospects against Manchester City, but a fresh injury to Kai Havertz has further complicated their attacking options. For fans eager to engage beyond the action, Sky Sports offers a Super 6 competition with a £250,000 prize pool, entry to which is free. Overall, Bruno Fernandes' assist chase, Liverpool's right‑back experimentation, and the weekend's packed fixture list provide ample storylines for Premier League enthusiasts.
As the season draws to a close, the statistical gaps Fernandes has carved out may well become a defining legacy of the 2023‑24 campaign.