Darren Anderton staggered rather than sprinted to the 100 assist mark. His fifth assist in 21 games this season is matched, or bettered, by five colleagues

However, as only the fifth player to achieve the feat (behind Beckham, Giggs, McManaman and Sheringham) and still the leader with 48 of the dead-ball variety, it deserves recognition. He also leads the league all-time with contributions on 15 goals from indirect free-kicks and the thirty-one team-mates he has helped to score goals has only been exceeded by Le Tissier for a one-club player. Kevin Scott and Moussa Saib's only Premiership goals came courtesy of Anderton assists

However, the feeling persists that it could have been so much better. He became the first to register 50 assists when he set Sheringham up for a goal against Norwich in April 1995, and only Eric Cantona required fewer games, 96 to 103, to achieve the feat. The second fifty took 142 games as he has been overtaken by the likes of Beckham and Giggs playing on a superior team and with fewer injuries. Indeed, in the past seven seasons, Anderton has only once breached the 10 assist barrier, a level that more than 20 players achieve each year

By far the most grateful recipient of his work has been Teddy Sheringham as he helped fashion 25 of his goals during the striker's first term with the team. Only the McManaman/Fowler combination for Liverpool can better that. The magic has not been repeated on Sheringham's return as they have yet to hitch up for a goal this season, other than once when Sheringham acted as the provider

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