The manic festive fixture list is what makes the Premier League unique, but to Pep Guardiola it's having a severe detrimental effect on those playing in England.

The Manchester City manager blasted the Premier League for 'killing' its stars as teams juggle four matches in 13 days - with some in a shorter period.

Guardiola has called for changes to be made to the festive schedule are brandishing the treatment of players as 'not normal'.

Pep Guardiola has slammed the Premier League's festive schedule and said it's 'killing' stars

He expressed his concerns after watching Manchester City beat Watford 3-1 on Tuesday

'How many injuries the players have in the last weeks - we're going to kill them,' he said after Tuesday's 3-1 win over Watford. 'The federation has to reflect. It's not normal guys.

'This is not basketball, it's not tennis - players need recovery. See how many players get muscular injuries in that period but the show must go on.

'They make a lot of anti-doping to control us (but) we don't protect the players. Everyone is in this business for the players. Not for you, not me, for the performance of the players.

'Here in England we don't protect them. You can play every three, four or five days but not every two days.

'I'm not saying change the amazing thing on Boxing Day but you cannot play at midday at Selhurst Park and then come back two days later.'

Kyle Walker (left) appeared to be struggling with a knock towards the end of City's win

Kevin De Bruyne has been on the receiving end of some brutal challenges during this period

Guardiola expressed his concerns after having to contend with two games in three days. In that time he has seen injuries to Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne and more seriously to Gabriel Jesus.

West Brom complained to the Premier League after being asked to play twice in three days, having pleaded for a postponement with Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at West Ham coming just 51 hours after their New Year's Eve 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Leicester had only 213 hours between the start and finish of their four fixtures, while Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has bemoaned the schedule publicly too.

Evidence suggests that Premier League clubs are right about this. On Wednesday, freelance injury data analyst Ben Dinnery highlighted the increase in injuries.

There was a 26 per cent rise in injuries last month compared to November. The increase in this statistic between October and November was just 10 per cent.

In addition too, the No of soft tissue injuries in December rose by 45 per cent.

With the festive period, which began on December 22, coming to a close on Thursday after Tottenham's clash with London rivals West Ham, Sportsmail takes a look at the injuries that the top-flight clubs are currently dealing with as a result of this time frame...

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has bemoaned his side's festive fixtures publicly

Arsenal Injury List

Saed Kolasinac - Ankle/Foot injury vs West Brom on New Year's Eve. Expected back this month.

Laurent Koscielny - Achilles injury. Expected back this month.

Nacho Monreal - Ankle/Foot injury vs Liverpool on December 22. Expected back on January 20.

Mesut Ozil - Knee injury. Expected back this month.

Nacho Monreal (right) is expected back later this month after an injury against Liverpool

Bournemouth Injury List

Joshua King - Hamstring injury vs Everton on December 03. No return date.

Ryan Fraser - Thigh injury. No return date.

Brighton Injury List

Matias Schelotto - Knock. No return date.

Burnley Injury List

Chris Wood - Knee injury vs Tottenham Hotspur on December 23. Expected back on January 6.

Chelsea Injury List

None.

Crystal Palace Injury list

Scott Dann - Knee injury vs Manchester City on New Year's Eve. No return date, out for the rest of the season.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - Knock vs Arsenal on December 28. No return date.

Jason Puncheon - Knee injury vs Manchester City on New Year's Eve. No return date, out for the rest of the season.

Crystal Palace's Jason Puncheon (centre) is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury

Everton Injury List

None.

Huddersfield Injury list

None.

Leicester City Injury List

Ben Chilwell - Illness. Expected back on January 6.

Wes Morgan - Hamstring injury vs Huddersfield on New Year's Day. No return date.

Danny Simpson - Thigh injury vs Manchester United on December 23. Expected back on January 27.

Jamie Vardy - injury vs Liverpool on December 30.

Leicester City will be without Wes Morgan for the foreseeable future due to a hamstring injury

Liverpool Injury List

Philippe Coutinho - Thigh injury. Expected back on January 14.

Jordan Henderson - Hamstring injury vs Arsenal on December 22. Expected back on January 22.

Mohamed Salah - Groin/Pelvic injury vs Leicester City on December 30. Expected back on January 14.

Daniel Sturridge - Muscle injury. No return date.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson damaged his hamstring at Arsenal on December 22

Man City Injury List

Gabriel Jesus - Knee injury vs Crystal Palace on New Year's Eve. Expected back on February 13.

Vincent Kompany - Calf injury vs Newcastle on December 27. Expected back on January 6.

Kyle Walker - Groin/Pelvic injury vs Watford on January 2. No return date.

Gabriel Jesus will be out of action until February after injuring his knee at Crystal Palace

Manchester United Injury List

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Knee injury vs Burnley on Boxing Day. Expected back on January 31.

Romelu Lukaku - Head injury vs Southampton on December 30. Expected back on January 15.

Romelu Lukaku was carried off on a stretcher with a head injury on December 30

Newcastle United Injury List

Rob Elliot - Thigh injury. Expected back on January 6.

Southampton Injury List

Wesley Hoedt - Knock. No return date.

Sam McQueen - Knock. No return date.

Stoke City Injury List

Ryan Shawcross - Calf injury vs Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day. Expected back on January 15.

Swansea Injury List

Tammy Abraham - Abdominal Injury. No return date.

Tottenham Injury List

Mousa Demeble - Hip injury vs Southampton on Boxing Day. No return date.

Danny Rose - Knee injury. No return date.

Mousa Dembele had to be substituted against Southampton on Boxing Day due to a hip injury

Watford Injury List

Stefano Okaka - Illness. No return date.

West Brom Injury list

Nacer Chadli - Thigh injury vs Stoke City on December 23. Expected back on February 24.

West Ham Injury List

Michail Antonio - Groin/Pelvic injury vs Newcastle United on December 23. Expected back on January 7.

Andre Ayew - Hamstring injury. No return date.

James Collins - Muscle injury. No return date.

Aaron Cresswell - Sore back vs West Bromwich Albion. No return date.

Diafra Sakho - Knee injury. No return date.