Bruno Fernandes closes in on Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s Premier League assist record – The Radar | Soccer News

Welcome to Radarto Sky Sports column in which Nick Wright uses a mix of data and opinion to shed light on need-to-know stories from the ups and downs of the Premier League. This week:

🔴 Fernandes on assistance mission
🤔 Has Slot found a right-back solution?
🔍 A player to watch this weekend

Fernandes chasing De Bruyne, Henry

Bruno Fernandes put himself on the brink of a Premier League record when he provided the assist for Benjamin Sesko’s breakaway goal in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Brentford on Monday.

He tackles Liverpool Super Sunday needs just one more to equal Kevin De Bruyne for Manchester City in 2019/20 and Thierry Henry for Arsenal in 2002/03. With four games of the campaign still to play, he is well placed to beat their totals.

Fernandes has been a creative force in the Premier League since arriving at Old Trafford from Sporting in January 2020, but his current tally of 19 assists is by far his highest single season tally.

Continue at the same rate over Manchester United’s remaining games of the campaign, with Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton coming after Liverpool, and he will finish on 22.

The numbers show a gulf between Fernandes and the rest in this season’s Premier League. The 31-year-old’s total of 19 assists is almost twice as high as anyone else’s, with Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen next on 10.

The gap is equally wide for chances created, with Fernandes on 114, well ahead of the next players on the list, in Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Arsenal’s Declan Rice, on 61. He is very clearly at the top for Opta-defined big chances created too, on 28.

His set-piece delivery has made a significant contribution to his success this season. Ten of his 19 assists came from free-kicks and corners compared to just two and three of Henry and De Bruyne’s record totals respectively.

But it’s worth noting that, in the context of this season in the Premier League, Fernandes is comfortably on top for open-play chances created too, reflecting his completeness as a creator.

Assists are of course dependent on the ability of a teammate to finish, but Fernandes also comes out on top for expected assists, which is a better reflection of the quality of chances created. In fact, he has the highest xA of any player since his Premier League debut.

Liverpool need no reminder of what he can do. It was his brilliant flying cross, with the instep of his right boot during the second phase of a corner, that allowed Harry Maguire to head home the winning goal when the two sides met at Anfield in October.

Another contribution from that old man on Sunday would equal a record that has stood for 23 years, and strengthen his claim to be considered this season’s Premier League Player of the Year.

Jones impressed at right back

Curtis Jones may not be a long-term solution to Liverpool’s right-back problem, but he will be hoping to keep his place there at Old Trafford after impressing against Crystal Palace and Everton.

The 25-year-old became the sixth Liverpool player to start in the Premier League this season after Connor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo when he was thrown in at Goodison Park. He accepted the challenge.

“He hardly played in that position in his career,” said head coach Arne Slot. “The way he does it is a great compliment.”

Jones has a lot to learn in the position as a natural midfielder, but he certainly added value in possession.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has of course been unique in terms of his creativity from right-back, but Jones is equally comfortable with the ball at his feet and showed the quality of his passing with the through ball assist for Andrew Robertson’s goal against Palace.

That pass came from a midfield position after a counter-attack and was one of 149 in the two games, the most by any Liverpool player. His composure under pressure and ability to step into central zones helped eliminate the team’s problems in the build-up.

Virgil van Dijk certainly noticed the difference. “I thought Curtis was outstanding against Everton,” he said this week. “Especially in possession, he was quite a big game-changer.”

They may need more of the same at Old Trafford.

Player Radar: Who else to watch

of Bournemouth Junior Kroupi against Crystal Palace in the previous game on Sunday after scoring three goals in their last four games. He will surely be in demand this summer.

Live Radar: What’s on Sky this weekend?

Arsenal and Fulham go head-to-head in the Saturday Night Football game, with coverage starting Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event from 17:00 before kick-off at 17:30.

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace meet at 2:00 p.m Sky Sports+ before the big one Super Sunday bait Man Utd and Liverpool meet at Old Trafford, kicking off at the earlier time of 3.30pm.

Monday, Chelsea take on Nottingham Forest at 3pm Everton meet then man city for kick-off at 8 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:30 p.m Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

Read last week’s Radar column

Do Arsenal have any reasons for optimism in an attacking shootout with Manchester City for the title? Last week’s column looked before another injury to Kai Havertz made their task more difficult.