Manchester United very much remain on course for Champions League qualification. On Sunday, the Red Devils claimed a crucial victory over top five rivals Aston Villa at Old Trafford, with Casemiro breaking the deadlock via a header, before goals from Matheus Cunha and then Benjamin Šeško secured the points later on. Michael Carrick has now won seven of nine fixtures since taking charge, losing only one, meaning his team remain third, crucially now six points clear of Chelsea in sixth.
Casemiro's opener came as a result of a Bruno Fernandes corner, which was record-breaking. That's because, this took the Portuguese midfielder's tally to 15 assists this season, the most by any Man United player in a single Premier League campaign.
Most assists by any Manchester United player in a Premier League season
Players | Season | Assists |
|---|---|---|
Bruno Fernandes | 2025/26 | 16 |
David Beckham | 1999/00 | 15 |
Nani | 2010/11 | 14 |
David Beckham | 1997/98 | 13 |
Antonio Valencia | 2011/12 | 13 |
Bruno Fernandes | 2020/21 | 12 |
Ryan Giggs | 2001/02 | 12 |
David Beckham | 2000/01 | 12 |
Ryan Giggs | 1999/00 | 12 |
Éric Cantona | 1996/97 | 12 |
Éric Cantona | 1993/94 | 12 |
Wayne Rooney | 2010/11 | 11 |
Wayne Rooney | 2006/07 | 11 |
Ryan Giggs | 2003/04 | 11 |
Dwight Yorke | 1998/99 | 11 |
David Beckham | 1998/99 | 11 |
Ryan Giggs | 1994/95 | 11 |
In the Premier League era, there have been 17 occasions of a Manchester United player registering 11+ assists in a single campaign. Plenty of players appear multiple times on this list, with both Ryan Giggs and David Beckham doing so four times, while Éric Cantona, Wayne Rooney and now Fernandes have done so twice.
Of course, Fernandes' total of 16 has broken Beckham's record set over a quarter of a century ago. So now, could the Red Devils' captain break the all-time Premier League record?
Most assists by a player in a Premier League season
Players | Club(s) | Season | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
Thierry Henry | Arsenal | 2002/03 | 20 |
Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2020/21 | 20 |
Mesut Özil | Arsenal | 2015/16 | 19 |
Cesc FÃ bregas | Chelsea | 2014/15 | 18 |
Frank Lampard | Chelsea | 2004/05 | 18 |
Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2016/17 | 18 |
Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 2024/25 | 18 |
Cesc FÃ bregas | Arsenal | 2007/08 | 17 |
Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2017/18 | 16 |
Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2022/23 | 16 |
Éric Cantona | Leeds & Man United | 1992/93 | 16 |
Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | 2025/26 | 16 |
Fernandes has become only the 12th player to reach 16+ assists in a single Premier League campaign, of which four are Kevin De Bruyne, meaning only eight different men have reached this milestone. The Belgian, alongside Thierry Henry, jointly hold the record with 20, while the Frenchman also scored 24 goals back in 2002/03. So, with eight fixtures remaining, could the Man United skipper break this record that appeared impossible to beat?
Manchester United's remaining Premier League fixtures
- Friday 20 March. Bournemouth - Dean Court. Kick off 8pm.
- Monday 13 April. Leeds United - Old Trafford. Kick off 8pm.
- Saturday 18 April. Chelsea - Stamford Bridge. Kick off 8pm.
- Monday 27 April. Brentford - Old Trafford. Kick off 8pm.
- Weekend of 2/3 May. Liverpool - Old Trafford. Kick off TBC.
- Weekend of 9/10 May. Sunderland - Stadium of Light. Kick off TBC.
- Sunday 17 May. Nottingham Forest - Old Trafford. Kick off TBC.
- Sunday 24 May. Brighton & Hove Albion - Amex Stadium. Kick off 4pm.
Given Man United's remaining fixture list, Fernandes surely has to fancy his chances of racking up five more assists. Of course, clashes with Chelsea and Liverpool will not be easy, but they also have some more than winnable games in there, including Friday night's visit to Bournemouth.
Considering how Carrick's team are playing just now, the Red Devils will be expected to win plenty of these matches and score a high volume of goals while doing so. If Champions League football is back at Old Trafford come September, Fernandes will be a key reason why.