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 main topics: Bruno Fernandes' chase for the assist record, the search for a right‑back solution by Liverpool manager Arne Slot, and a player to keep an eye on this weekend.
Bruno Fernandes edged ever closer to a historic Premier League benchmark when his precise pass set up Benjamin Sesko's solo strike in Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday. That assist marked Fernandes' 19th of the campaign, putting him within a single tally of the joint‑record holders Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, 2019/20) and Thierry Henry (Arsenal, 2002/03). With four league fixtures remaining – Liverpool, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton – the Portuguese midfielder has a realistic chance of overtaking both legends and finishing the season with 22 assists.
Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, Fernandes has become United's creative engine, but this season his assist total has surged to an unprecedented level. His current haul of 19 is more than double the next best figure in the league, with Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen each sitting on ten.
The gap is equally stark in the broader "chances created" metric: Fernandes has fashioned 114 opportunities, far ahead of Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who are tied on 61. He also tops the Opta "big chances created" chart with 28, underscoring his ability to generate high‑quality opportunities. A key factor in Fernandes' success has been his set‑piece expertise.
Ten of his 19 assists have come from free‑kicks or corners, a proportion that dwarfs the two and three such assists recorded by Henry and De Bruyne when they set their records. Yet Fernandes is not merely a dead‑ball specialist; he also leads the league in open‑play chances created, highlighting his all‑round creative skill set. Moreover, his expected assists (xA) metric – which measures the quality of chances rather than merely the final outcome – is the highest of any player since his Premier League debut, suggesting that his influence extends beyond the assists that actually find the net. Liverpool fans will recall the moment at Anfield in October when Fernandes delivered a perfectly weighted volleyed cross from a corner, allowing Harry Maguire to head home the winner against United.
Replicating a similar decisive contribution this Sunday would see him equal a record that has stood for 23 years and would bolster his case for the league's Player of the Year award. Turning to Liverpool, manager Arne Slot continues to search for a reliable right‑back. Curtis Jones, a 25‑year‑old midfielder, has been thrust into the role on several occasions this season, becoming the sixth Liverpool player to start at right‑back in the Premier League after Connor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo.
Slot praised Jones, noting that "he has hardly played in that position in his career, the way he does it is a big compliment." While Jones lacks the natural defensive pedigree of a traditional full‑back, his comfort on the ball and ability to contribute in attack have been valuable. He recorded a through‑ball assist for Andrew Robertson's goal against Crystal Palace, a pass that originated from a midfield position during a counter‑attack. This assist was one of 149 passes completed by Liverpool across the two matches, the highest total for any individual player. Teammate Virgil van Dijk highlighted Jones' impact, saying, "Curtis was outstanding against Everton, especially in possession – a real game‑changer." Jones' willingness to adapt and his composure under pressure have helped Liverpool smooth out some of the growing pains in their build‑up play, though Slot still hopes to find a long‑term solution.
Elsewhere in the league, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupp is attracting attention after netting three goals in his last four appearances. His form could make him a hot prospect in the upcoming summer transfer window. Meanwhile, the Saturday Night Football clash between Arsenal and Fulham will be broadcast on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event from 5 pm, with the kick‑off scheduled for 5:30 pm.
The Super Sunday lineup includes a 2 pm Sky Sports+ match between Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, followed by the marquee Manchester United versus Liverpool showdown at Old Trafford, kicking off at 3:30 pm. On Monday, Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest for a 3 pm fixture, and later that evening Everton face Manchester City at 8 pm, with coverage beginning at 6:30 pm on Sky Sports channels.
As the title race tightens, Arsenal fans wonder whether there is any cause for optimism in their battle with Manchester City. A recent column examined the situation, but a fresh injury to Kai Havertz has added another hurdle for the Gunners. For those looking to add a bit of excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £250,000 – entry is free.
Stay tuned for more analysis and updates throughout the week.