Alexis Sanchez received rough treatment against Huddersfield... but who has been fouled the most in the Premier League this season?

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Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez endured a very physical test on Saturday as he was fouled a total of seven times against Huddersfield in the Premier League.

After making the move from top flight-rivals Arsenal, the Chile international appears to have been targeted by the opposition in both the Huddersfield and Tottenham games.

And, in fact, no player has been fouled more often in a Premier League match this season than Sanchez was at Old Trafford against The Terriers at the weekend.

Manchester United's Alexis Sanchez was fouled seven times against Huddersfield on Saturday

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has recently called for more protection for the players

However, it isn't only Sanchez who may feel hard done by. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has recently been very outspoken about the rough treatment dished out to his runaway league leaders this season.

And he gave his latest opinion on the matter after City's FA Cup clash with Cardiff in the FA Cup fourth round when he was furious with Joe Bennett's horror tackle which forced Leroy Sane off with a long-term ankle injury.  

Guardiola remonstrated after the game: 'I've said many times, the only thing the referee has to do is protect the players. It's not just Manchester City players, it's all players.

'It happened once and then it happened again with Brahim (Diaz) at the end. The players are the artists — they are why we are here — and we have to protect them because I don't like to see this.' 

But it may come as a shock to Guardiola when he actually finds out who has been fouled the most in the Premier League. 

Watford's Richarlison has been fouled the most (76) in the Premier League this season

Tottenham's Dele Alli has been fouled the second most, 10 behind Richarlison with 66

Wilfried Zaha, who has won crucial penalties this season, has been fouled 55 times so far

Only one City star makes the top 10 and that is England international Raheem Sterling, who has won 44 fouls in 1,832 minutes.

Watford's Brazilian youngster Richarlison tops the table having won a total of 76 fouls in 2,144 minutes, while Tottenham's Dele Alli comes home in second after being unfairly challenged 66 times.

Furthermore, after his rough treatment on Saturday at Old Trafford, Sanchez has been tackled 56 times, which puts him fourth in the list of most fouled English top-flight players.

Crystal Palace's star man Wilfried Zaha, who has won crucial penalties for his side this term, has been fouled one less time than Sanchez, while Hazard has been taken out 52 times.

Jordan Ayew, Ashley Barnes, Javier Hernandez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek make up the rest of the 10 most fouled players in the Premier League. 

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has been unfairly challenged 52 times in 1437 minutes this season

Raheem Sterling is the only Man City player in the top 10 most fouled in the Premier League