Bruno Fernandes is chasing Premier League history, but a controversial assist decision has left fans debating whether he's truly closing in on the record books.

The Manchester United captain is currently on 19 assists for the season, just one shy of the all-time single-season Premier League record of 20, jointly held by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. However, his latest "assist" against Liverpool has sparked confusion.

During the heated Old Trafford clash, Fernandes headed the ball back across goal. Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman then punched it, but the ball deflected off striker Benjamin Sesko and into the net. While Fernandes was awarded the assist in Fantasy Premier League (FPL)—where millions of fans track player points—the official Premier League record tells a different story.

The key difference lies in the rules. In FPL, an assist can still be credited if there's only one defensive touch before the ball reaches the goalscorer. But the Premier League's official definition does not award assists when a defending player touches the ball. So, while Fernandes gets the FPL points, he remains behind Henry and De Bruyne in the official record books.

Meanwhile, the goal itself faced a VAR review for a potential handball by Sesko. The Premier League Match Centre confirmed: "The referee's call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR—with it deemed there was no conclusive evidence that Sesko handled the ball before scoring."

As Manchester United continue their impressive form, Fernandes' quest for the assist record adds an extra layer of drama to the season's final stretch. Whether or not he officially ties the record, his playmaking has been a key driver of United's resurgence.