Assists became a recognised statistic in world football around the 1994 World Cup, and the Premier League has tracked single-season creators closely ever since. The 20-assist barrier set in 2003 has proved a stubborn benchmark, with several elite playmakers producing seasons that came close.

Cesc Fàbregas announced himself as Arsenal’s creative core after Thierry Henry’s departure, recording 17 league assists the season following that transfer as Arsène Wenger’s side finished third, four points behind champions Manchester United. When Fàbregas returned to the Premier League seven years later with Chelsea, he produced 18 assists in his comeback campaign, the first of those coming with a memorable pass for André Schürrle at Burnley on Matchday 1.

Kevin De Bruyne, now among the competition’s most productive creators with 117 Premier League assists, rediscovered his form after a German spell and a move to Manchester City in 2015. On his arrival Pellegrini said, “It takes a special footballer to improve our squad and I have no doubt that Kevin is certainly one of those,” although De Bruyne’s fullest expression of that quality arrived under a later manager when he notched 18 assists in that first season of Pep Guardiola’s tenure, including a late run of five assists in the final four fixtures to secure Champions League qualification.

Frank Lampard combined goals and creativity in 2004–05 under José Mourinho, contributing through the final third as Chelsea claimed a first title since 1955. Mesut Özil provided a compelling midseason burst in 2015–16, compiling 16 assists in 18 games before adding just three in the campaign’s second half.

Mohamed Salah set new Premier League benchmarks with Liverpool in 2024–25, finishing with 18 assists, 29 goals and a total of 47 goal contributions, winning both the Golden Boot and the Playmaker of the Year award after being allowed by Arne Slot to “cheat” out of possession.

Bruno Fernandes leads the 2025/26 charge aided by Michael Carrick after a difficult period under Rúben Amorim. Fernandes spends much of his time as a roaming No. 10 and has been influential from set pieces. Season ongoing.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2–1 victory at Villa Park on Sunday shifted the look of the relegation scrap as the 2025/26 campaign nears its end. A day earlier West Ham suffered a 3–0 defeat to Brentford, and the two results combined to reverse the positions of the clubs that had occupied 17th and 18th heading into Gameweek 35.

Before those results, West Ham held the edge over Roberto De Zerbi’s men. After Tottenham’s win at Aston Villa, Spurs moved above the Hammers. With only three matches remaining, Opta’s supercomputer offers a clear set of probabilities for the final run-in:

15. Leeds United — Current Points 43, Expected Points 46.72, Relegation Chances 0.10%
16. Nottingham Forest — Current Points 39, Expected Points 44.12, Relegation Chances 2.29%
17. Tottenham — Current Points 37, Expected Points 40.90, Relegation Chances 22.48%
18. West Ham — Current Points 36, Expected Points 39.22, Relegation Chances 75.09%
19. Burnley — Current Points 20, Expected Points 22.73, Relegation Chances 100.00%
20. Wolves — Current Points 18, Expected Points 21.02, Relegation Chances 100.00%

Leeds United strengthened their position with a 3–1 victory over Burnley on Friday. The three points moved Daniel Farke’s side to 14th, seven points clear of the drop zone. Opta’s model still projects the Whites to finish a place lower than they stand now, but that margin provides breathing space.

Nottingham Forest must wait until Monday’s meeting with Chelsea. Even a single point at Stamford Bridge would take the Tricky Trees to 40 points, and the supercomputer backs Vítor Pereira’s men to indeed remain safe, assigning them a 2.29% chance of relegation.

For Tottenham, consecutive league wins have produced a small cushion in 17th, but the model gives them a 22.48% probability of dropping out of the division for the first time since 1977. With three games left, the permutations are tight and every result will materially reshape those projections.

Leeds United’s victory over Burnley has all but secured their safety and, combined with Nottingham Forest’s improved displays since Vitor Pereira took charge, has left Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United to contest survival over the last three weeks of the season.

Tottenham’s 2–1 win over Aston Villa was decisive. The result lifted Roberto De Zerbi’s Lilywhites above their London rivals and out of the relegation places. West Ham’s momentum stalled at Brentford at the weekend, which opened the door for Spurs to leapfrog the Hammers.

That sequence is remarkable given the recent context. Spurs finished 17th last season and the Hammers obviously weren’t going anywhere with Graham Potter in charge, so few foreseen an existential scrap between the pair at this stage.

The remaining fixtures are straightforward and unforgiving. A favourable result for Arsenal in east London on the weekend of Arsenal v West Ham would alter the dynamic for West Ham and Tottenham. As the draft noted, “Victory for Mikel Arteta’s side in east London would greatly aid their survival bid, especially as they’re hosting a Leeds United team that may be taking their foot off the gas in May, given that they’re pretty much safe.” A West Ham win could, conversely, ease Manchester City’s path to the title while making life harder for Spurs.

After the Arsenal meeting, Spurs face Chelsea in midweek following Chelsea’s FA Cup final with Manchester City. That fixture will revive memories of the old Battle of the Bridge when late drama reshaped a title race.

League positions and remaining fixtures

Tottenham (17th, 37 points)
Leeds (H) – May 11
Chelsea (A) – May 19
Everton (H) – May 24

West Ham (18th, 36 points)
Arsenal (H) – May 10
Newcastle (A) – May 17
Leeds (H) – May 24