Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' weekly column where Nick Wright blends statistics and insight to highlight the Premier League stories that matter. This edition covers three key 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 is now teetering on the edge of a historic Premier League achievement.
In Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday, his precise pass set up Benjamin Sesko for a breakaway strike, adding another assist to Fernandes' tally. That assist brings him to 19 for the season, just one shy of the 20‑assist benchmark set by Kevin De Bruyne for Manchester City in the 2019/20 campaign and by Thierry Henry for Arsenal in 2002/03. United face Liverpool in the upcoming Super Sunday clash, and with four league fixtures still to play—Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, Brighton and the Liverpool game itself—Fernandes has a realistic chance of matching or even surpassing those legendary totals.
Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, Fernandes has become United's creative engine, but this season his assist count has exploded to a personal best. If he continues at his current clip, he could finish the campaign with 22 assists, a figure that would dwarf any other player’s output this year. The Premier League table and fixtures are available on Sky Sports, and fans can download the Sky Sports app or follow updates via WhatsApp for the latest news.
A quick glance at the numbers highlights just how far ahead Fernandes sits. His 19 assists are nearly double the next best total, with Manchester City’s promising youngster Rayan Cherki and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen each sitting on 10. The gap widens further when we examine chances created: Fernandes has engineered 114 opportunities, while the closest rivals—Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Arsenal’s Declan Rice—have managed 61 each.
He also leads the league in Opta‑defined big chances created with 28, underscoring his ability to produce high‑quality opportunities. A significant portion of his assists stems from set‑piece mastery. Ten of his 19 assists have come directly from free‑kicks or corners, a stark contrast to the two and three set‑piece assists that Henry and De Bruyne recorded in their record‑setting seasons. Nevertheless, Fernandes is not merely a dead‑ball specialist; he also dominates the open‑play creation charts, confirming his status as a well‑rounded playmaker.
Assists, however, depend on teammates' finishing ability. To gauge pure creation skill, we turn to expected assists (xA), which measures the quality of chances a player supplies regardless of whether they are converted. Fernandes tops the xA leaderboard, holding the highest figure of any player since his Premier League debut, which reinforces the argument that his influence goes beyond raw assist numbers.
Liverpool fans will recall Fernandes’ dazzling contribution at Anfield in October, when his expertly volleyed cross from a corner allowed Harry Maguire to head home the decisive goal. Replicating that kind of impact against United this Sunday would not only tie the 23‑year‑old record but also strengthen Fernandes’ case for the season’s Player of the Year award. Switching focus to Liverpool, manager Arne Slot continues to experiment with his right‑back options.
Curtis Jones, a 25‑year‑old midfielder, has been thrust into the role on several occasions, most notably against Crystal Palace and Everton. Jones became the sixth Liverpool player to start at right‑back this season, joining the ranks of Connor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo. Despite limited experience in the position, Slot praised Jones, saying, "He has hardly played there in his career, but the way he does it is a big compliment." Jones’ adaptability has paid dividends. In the match against Palace, he delivered a precise through‑ball that unlocked Andrew Robertson for a goal, showcasing his vision and passing range.
Over the two games, Liverpool recorded 149 passes into the final third—the most by any player on the team—highlighting Jones’ compositional impact. His composure under pressure and willingness to drift into central areas have helped smooth Liverpool’s build‑up play, a fact not lost on captain Virgil van Dijk, who described Jones as "outstanding" in possession after the Everton fixture.
The right‑back conundrum may still demand further solutions, but Jones’ performances suggest that internal options can provide short‑term stability while the club scouts long‑term signings. Further down the league, Bournemouth’s promising forward Junior Kroupi is set to face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Kroupi has found the net three times in his last four appearances, making him a hot prospect for the upcoming summer transfer window. On the broadcast front, Sky Sports will deliver extensive coverage of the weekend’s marquee matchups.
Arsenal host Fulham in the Saturday Night Football slot, with commentary beginning at 5 pm on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event ahead of the 5:30 pm kickoff. Later, Bournemouth travel to Crystal Palace for a 2 pm clash on Sky Sports+, preceding the Super Sunday double‑header of Manchester United versus Liverpool at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 3:30 pm. Monday’s action features Chelsea taking on Nottingham Forest at 3 pm, followed by Everton’s 8 pm encounter with Manchester City, with pre‑match analysis starting at 6:30 pm on the same Sky channels. As the title race tightens, Arsenal supporters wonder whether their side can maintain optimism in a potential shoot‑out with Manchester City.
A previous column explored this scenario, but a fresh injury to Kai Havertz has added another hurdle for the Gunners. Finally, readers are reminded of the Super 6 competition, offering a chance to win a £250,000 prize pool. Entry is free, and participants can test their knowledge of the league’s latest developments.