Here we go, manual assists for another double GW!

Chelsea v Bournemouth 14th January
Semenyo fouled for Kluivert penalty

Brentford v Man City 14th January
Savio’s shot saved by Flekken for Foden’s second goal

Arsenal v Tottenham – 15th January
Arsenal corner strategy pays off again. For Arsenals equaliser, the cross reaches the far post and is headed back across goal by Gabriel, where it is deflected into the net by Solanke. OG rule applies here.

Man Utd v Southampton-16th January
Southampton’s goal awarded to Ugarte as an own goal, so the last touch by a Southampton player came from Dibling, who is awarded the assist. By our rules, own goals cannot be given a double assist, so there is no double assist for the corner taker.

For the second Diallo goal, Zirkzee feeds the cross in to the scorer, who tries to shoot, the ball rebounds to him and he scores at the second attempt. Last pass to the goalscorer rule applies, and Zirkzee is awarded the assist

West Ham v Crystal Palace-18th January
For Mateta’s penalty, Nketiah is fouled by Fabianski for the award

Everton v Tottanham-19th January
Gray’s own goal comes from a headflick from Calvert-Lewin, and while Dragusin maybe have got the slightest nick on the ball simultaneously, it is not a significant enough touch to remove the assist on the Own Goal rule.

Man Utd V Brighton-19th January
Bruno’s penalty was a result of a bizarre challenge on Zirkzee by Baleba, and the assist for Rutter’s goal is awarded to Ayari, whose cross is made a meal of by Onana

Chelsea v Wolves – 20th January
Cunha’s cross is dropped by Chelsea keeper and his fumble results in Wolves goal. Goalkepper parry rules applies.
For the Cucurella goal, the ball is crossed in by Madueke, a flick on by Dewsbury Hall, results in a double assist.

Not awarded

Newcastle v Wolves 15th January

For the Isak first goal, Murphys through ball reaches the scorer, Isak, who takes the ball forward, Gordon steps over the ball (it does not touch him). Isak continues with the ball to the edge of the penalty box, where he attempts to pass to Gordon. It bounces off a defender, back into the path of Isak, who shoots and scores.
As there was no attempt by Isak to score initially, it is considered a new passage of play, and no assist has been awarded under the “last pass to goalscorer” rule.

Additional Information.
Whilst normally we would have awarded this under the “last pass to the goalscorer rule” we have a firm view that the rule was absolutely not written for situations described above. The rule was put in place for players who directly shoot from a clean pass and then score off a rebounded deflection from an opposition player.
This non award is identical to the decision we made for the Diaz goal in GW20, details here

It is most certainly a new passage of play. Therefore, on this occasion we have applied the rule using the intent in which it was written.
This rule clarity, along with a few further pieces will be amended at the end of the season. It is unlikely that the “last pass rule” will be removed, more likely, this additional piece of information will be added.

(We will apply this logic for the remainder of the season)

Ipswich vs Man City-19th January
Not awarded- De Bruyne‘s cross comes off O’Shea at a significant angle to allow Foden to score, the ball would not have reached Foden in a scoring position without the deflection.
The frame below shows Foden obscured by two Ipswich defenders, the angle of KDB pass (before the deflection) suggests Haaland was the original target.
As the ball deflects into Foden’s path, at a different angle, he adjusts his position, by taking a step backwards, controlling the ball in mid air. As a result, there are numerous reasons, (deflection, not a clean pass, adjustments, receiving the ball in a different area etc ) why, based on FL rules, this is not a manual assist.

Chelsea v Wolves – 20th January
For Chelseas first, without the deflection, the ball, based on the trajectory of James pass, would not have reached Tosin. Therefore, no assist is awarded.