Seven Records Teetering in the Premier League: History Beckons in 2026

Halfway through a cracking Premier League campaign and the record book is starting to look a bit twitchy. Some lads are chasing glory, others are drifting towards infamy, and by May 2026 we could be re-writing more than a few lines in the history section. Opta’s boffins have highlighted seven milestones within reach — here’s the pundit’s-eye view of what might fall and why.

1) Most Goals by a Player in a Season

It’s the obvious one. Erling Haaland remains a walking panic alarm for defences and he’s got his own record in his sights. He bagged 36 in 2022–23; this time he sits on 19 strikes from 18 games heading into City’s New Year’s Day meeting with Sunderland. At his current clip — a goal every 77 minutes — you wouldn’t bet against him steaming past 36 with room to spare. He needs 18 more in roughly 20 matches and is already two shy of his personal best for goals by the turn of the year (21). The Manchester derby on January 17th will be circled in red — he’s already notched four in six league outings against United.

2) Most Assists in a Premier League Season

Rayan Cherki versus Bruno Fernandes is shaping into a tidy tussle for top creator. Both sit on seven assists, but the stopwatch tells you who’s flying: Cherki has racked his up in just 644 minutes, compared to 1,477 for the United skipper. The magic number is 20 — the mark set by Thierry Henry in 2002–03 and matched by Kevin De Bruyne in 2019–20. December was a stunner for Cherki with four assists in four; at an average of 92 minutes per assist he’s outpacing even Cesc Fàbregas’s best benchmark (111 minutes with 5+ assists in 2016–17). If Pep Guardiola’s summer pick keeps threading needles like this, that record’s under real threat.

3) Youngest Premier League Goalscorer

James Vaughan’s long-standing record (16 years and 270 days for Everton in April 2005) is the mark to beat. Arsenal’s Max Dowman — who debuted at 15 years and 235 days — has time on his side after turning 16 on New Year’s Eve. He’s got until September 26, 2026, to nick one and rewrite the line. The ankle ligament knock that’s kept him out since November is a nuisance, but Mikel Arteta clearly trusts the lad. Expect sparing minutes, yes — but the chance to etch your name in history has a funny way of finding fearless youngsters.

4) Most Last-Minute Winners in a Season

We’ve already had 16 deciders scored in the final knockings — think Rio Ngumoha versus Newcastle and Estevão against Liverpool — which means 8.6% of matches are being pinched in stoppage time. The single-season record of 27 (7.1%) set in 2023–24 is wobbling; nine more in the next 194 games does it. Keep a special eye on Arsenal: their late-game set-piece routine is a menace, as Gabriel Magalhães reminded everyone with that 90+6th-minute header past Newcastle.

5) Most Premier League Appearances in History

James Milner is inching towards footballing immortality. He’s on 648 appearances, hunting down Gareth Barry’s all-time mark of 653. At this rate, he could draw level by the end of January when Brighton host Everton on the 31st. Under Fabian Hürzeler, Milner’s become a reliable cog again after last season’s knee reconstruction — an ordeal he admitted once left him unsure he’d ever walk properly again, never mind play. If he features in every remaining league match, he finishes on 667 and plants a flag on a peak that might stand for decades.

6) Fewest Points in a Premier League Season

Here comes the grim one. Derby County’s 11-point haul from 2007–08 is the bogey mark, and Wolves are staring it down. Three points at the halfway stage — all from draws — tells a bleak story, even with that spirited 1-1 at Old Trafford on December 30th. Current projections have them finishing on six points, which would be a historically bad return and half of Derby’s total. Southampton only just dodged the all-time low earlier this year with 12; Wolves need a surge to avoid becoming a cautionary tale for the ages.

7) Most Defeats in a Season

More pain for Wolves. Sixteen losses in 19 puts them on course to rewrite another unwanted chapter. The record stands at 29 — Derby (2007–08) share it with Ipswich Town (1994–95), though the Tractor Boys did it in a 42-game season. Keep losing at this clip and Wolves land on 32 defeats. With Newcastle up on January 18th and Manchester City on January 24th, the route to safety looks more like a rock face than a path.

Bottom line: we’re set for a season where the margins — whether Haaland’s ruthless finishing, Cherki’s eye of the needle, or Wolves’ slide — could define the era. For those tracking form, odds and trends, our hub on best betting sites is a handy companion to the drama.

The Old Trafford Quirk Worth Watching

One more for the anoraks: Manchester United haven’t lost at Old Trafford when leading at half-time since May 1984. Even with that madcap 4-4 with Bournemouth earlier this month, the streak survives. It’s an extraordinary quirk — and exactly the sort of thing that ends the moment you shout about it. Keep your eyes peeled.

Seven records, one breathless run-in. Some will chase legend; others will try to escape it. Either way, the Premier League never fails to deliver a storyline.