Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' weekly column where Nick Wright blends statistics and insight to highlight the Premier League stories you need to know. This edition covers three main points: 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 within striking distance of a historic Premier League benchmark after setting up Benjamin Sesko's solo strike in Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday. That assist placed him just one tally away from matching Kevin De Bruyne's 2020‑21 total for Manchester City and Thierry Henry's 2002‑03 figure for Arsenal. With four league fixtures remaining – Liverpool, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton – Fernandes has a realistic chance of overtaking both legends. Since arriving from Sporting CP in January 2020, the Portuguese midfielder has become United's creative engine, but this season his 19 assists represent a personal best and the highest single‑season total of his career.
If he maintains his current output across the remaining games, he could finish with 22 assists, a figure that would eclipse the records set by De Bruyne and Henry. A quick glance at the league tables and fixtures shows United still have a demanding run, yet Fernandes' contribution remains unparalleled. The 31‑year‑old's assist count is almost double that of the next best players – Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, each with ten. The disparity extends to chances created as well: Fernandes has fashioned 114 opportunities, far ahead of Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who sit at 61 each.
In the Opta metric for "big chances created," he leads with 28, underscoring his ability to generate high‑quality opportunities. A significant portion of his assists has come from set‑pieces. Ten of his nineteen assists originated from free‑kicks or corners, whereas Henry and De Bruyne each relied on only two or three from dead‑ball situations to reach their records. Nevertheless, Fernandes is not merely a dead‑ball specialist; he also tops the league for open‑play chances created, highlighting his all‑round creativity.
Assists can be influenced by a teammate's finishing ability, which is why expected assists (xA) provide a clearer picture of a creator's effectiveness. Fernandes leads the Premier League in xA since his debut, confirming that the quality of his chances is exceptional, not just the quantity.
Liverpool fans will recall Fernandes' decisive contribution at Anfield in October, when his perfectly struck volleyed cross from a corner allowed Harry Maguire to head home the winner. Replicating a similar moment this weekend 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, the club continues to experiment with Curtis Jones at right‑back.
While he may not be a permanent solution, his performances against Crystal Palace and Everton have earned him a place in Arne Slot’s plans for the Manchester United clash. Jones becomes the sixth Liverpool player to start at full‑back this season, joining the likes of Connor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo. Slot praised his adaptability, noting that Jones "hardly played in that position in his career" and that his display is a "big compliment." Although naturally a midfielder, Jones has shown a willingness to learn and has added value in possession. His passing ability mirrors that of Trent Alexander‑Arnold, who redefined the right‑back role with his creative output.
Jones demonstrated this by delivering a precise through‑ball that set up Andrew Robertson’s goal against Palace – a pass that came from a midfield position after a swift counter‑attack. Over the two games, he completed 149 passes, the highest number for any Liverpool player, and his composure under pressure has helped smooth the team’s build‑up play.
Defensive stalwart Virgil van Dijk has taken note. "Curtis was outstanding against Everton," van Dijk said, emphasizing his impact in possession and describing him as a "big game‑changer." The Reds may need more contributions of this nature as they prepare for the Old Trafford showdown.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, who has found the net three times in his last four outings, is set to face Crystal Palace on Sunday and is expected to attract interest in the upcoming transfer window. The weekend’s broadcast schedule includes Arsenal versus Fulham on Saturday night, with coverage beginning at 5 pm on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
Earlier, Bournemouth take on Crystal Palace at 2 pm on Sky Sports+, followed by the Super Sunday double‑header of Manchester United versus Liverpool at 3.30 pm. Monday sees Chelsea host Nottingham Forest at 3 pm, and later that evening Everton travel to Manchester City for an 8 pm kickoff, with Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event starting at 6.30 pm. As the title race tightens, Arsenal fans wonder whether there are reasons for optimism in their battle with Manchester City.
A recent column explored this question, but a fresh injury to Kai Havertz has added another hurdle for the Gunners. Finally, readers are reminded to try the Super 6 competition for a chance at a £250,000 prize – entry is free.