Bruno Fernandes provided his record-equalling 20th assist of the Premier League season as Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2.

A thrilling contest at Old Trafford featured a controversial goal and a slice of history, as Fernandes matched the single-season record for assists.

Luke Shaw got the ball rolling when he struck on five minutes, marking United’s earliest league goal at Old Trafford since January 2024.

Bryan Mbeumo should have doubled United’s lead, only to strike the post after rounding Matz Sels on the break, and the Cameroon forward then skied over early in the second half.

United were made to pay when Elliot Anderson’s wicked delivery was nodded in by Morato in the 53rd minute, yet the Red Devils were swiftly back ahead in contentious fashion.

Matheus Cunha side-footed home following a bit of pinball in the Forest box, but it was clear that Mbuemo had handled in the build-up. The VAR advised referee Michael Salisbury to go to the screen, but he insisted the goal should stand, citing an accidental handball.

Fernandes’ record-equalling moment came in the 76th minute, as his drilled cross was turned in by Mbeumo.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s exquisite first-time finish dragged Forest back to within a goal, but the best chances then fell to Man Utd, with Fernandes teeing up three opportunities.

Patrick Dorgu could not beat Sels, Diogo Dalot hit the post, and Joshua Zirkzee saw a shot blocked before he forced a fantastic stop out of Forest’s goalkeeper on the rebound.

20 – Bruno Fernandes has now equalled the record for most assists in a Premier League season (20), levelling Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20. Treble. pic.twitter.com/a8VNUv5sbz— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 17, 2026

Data Debrief: Fernandes eyes outright record

Fernandes has joined Kevin De Bruyne (2019-20) and Thierry Henry (2002-03) in assisting 20 goals in a Premier League season.

If he provides one assist when United visit Brighton next week, he will not only set a new Premier League record, but equal the best single-season haul across Europe’s top five leagues. As it stands, Thomas Muller and Lionel Messi hold that record jointly, on 21 (as far as Opta’s records go).

United finished with a whopping 29 shots, and Fernandes had five of them, trailing only Mbeumo (six). The Portugal playmaker created eight chances, the joint-most he has managed in a league game this term, as the Red Devils tallied up 4.19 expected goals.

Gibbs-White’s strike, meanwhile, marked the 1,000th goal in the Premier League this term.

Since the start of March, no player has more goal involvements in the Premier League than Gibbs-White (10).