Manchester United's Alexis Sanchez was fouled seven times by Huddersfield last week – the most for a single player in the Premier League this season.

As Jamie Redknapp explained, the reason Sanchez is being kicked to bits is not because he earns £600,000 a week but because he is so good. Sometimes, that is the only way to stop him.

Eden Hazard knows the feeling. Since arriving in England in 2012, the Chelsea forward has been fouled more than 500 times – the nearest to him is Raheem Sterling on 362.

Eden Hazard has been fouled more than 500 times since moving to Chelsea in 2012

Raheem Sterling is the nearest player to Hazard's record in that time on 362

After Hazard and Sterling, there is Wilfried Zaha on 327 then Sanchez on 263. None will catch up to Chelsea's superstar any time soon.

Hazard has won 55 free-kicks this season and, though that is 22 less than Watford's Brazilian starlet Richarlison, the Belgian is in fact the most fouled per game on 3.24.

Just like Redknapp said, it can be a sign of someone's overwhelming talent.

Hazard was criticised in 2015-16, when Jose Mourinho was sacked less than a year after winning the title. It is a familiar position that Antonio Conte now finds himself in.

Hazard was blamed by Chelsea fans in 2015 after the departure of Jose Mourinho

Richarlison is the most fouled player in 2017-18 having been taken out 77 times

EDEN HAZARD FOULS WON 2012-13: 79 - fifth most fouled 2013-14: 89 - most fouled 2014-15: 113 -most fouled 2015-16: 70 - fifth most fouled 2016-17: 101 -second most fouled 2017-18: 55 - fifth most fouled Advertisement

FOULS WON SINCE 2012-13 507 – Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 362 – Raheem Sterling (Man City) 327 – Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) 263 – Alexis Sanchez (Man Utd) 255 – Danny Rose (Tottenham) Advertisement

One infamous banner produced by a fan in December 2015 picked on Chelsea's 'three rats' – claiming Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas were behind the collapse under Mourinho.

Costa has since signed for Atletico Madrid but Fabregas and Hazard remain. Under Conte, who is having to deflect questions about his future weekly, there is no sign that the latter is downing tools.

He is averaging a goal or assist per 138.8 minutes – a better return than in any of his previous three seasons. Under Mourinho in that out-of-character 2015-16 campaign, his average was 312.9 minutes.

Against Watford on Monday night, Chelsea were left with 10 men after Tiemoue Bakayoko decided to produce possibly the worst performance of the season.

Alexis Sanchez was fouled seven times during Manchester United's win over Huddersfield

Hazard is the fifth most fouled player in the Premier League this season on 55

MOST FOULED 2017-18 77 – Richarlison (Watford) 66 – Dele Alli (Tottenham) 62 – Jordan Ayew (Swansea) 56 – Alexis Sanchez (Man Utd) 55 – Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 55 – Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) Advertisement

MOST FOULS WON PER GAME 2017-18 3.24 – Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 3.22 – Ashley Barnes (Burnley) 3.14 – Richarlison (Watford) 3.07 – Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) 3.02 – Javier Hernandez (West Ham) *minimum 10 games played Advertisement

Bakayoko produced 12 passes with 66.7 per cent accuracy, lost more duels than he won, conceded two fouls and was sent off within half an hour at Vicarage Road.

Yet Hazard did not give up. He scored to make it 1-1 in the 82nd minute, giving the Premier League champions hope that they could escape with a point.

It was all his own work too – a real solo strike. Hazard had his back to goal when fed the ball but turned his marker then found the far corner from 25 yards.

The 27-year-old demanded the ball be retrieved and brought to the centre circle during his celebration too, so desperate was he to help Chelsea find a late winner.

Hazard demanded the ball be brought back to the centre circle after equalising on Monday

Hazard goes to ground under a challenge from Hull's David Meyler back in January 2017

HAZARD MINS PER GOAL INVOLVEMENT 2012-13: 131.8 mins 2013-14: 137.9 mins 2014-15: 146.6 mins 2015-16: 312.9 mins 2016-17: 143.0 mins 2017-18: 138.8 mins Advertisement

They didn't, of course, with Watford scoring three times in seven minutes to leave Conte clinging to his job, but Hazard showed some spirit at least. The same cannot be said for others.

Chelsea want their superstar to sign a new £300,000-per-week deal which would make him the highest-paid player in their history, though he has so far avoided doing so.

Real Madrid are circling and it remains to be seen how long Chelsea can hold on to their three-time Player of the Year. This week, he was asked the obligatory question about Madrid and Zinedine Zidane during an interview in Spain.

'I remember 10 years ago when he (Zidane) spoke about me for the first time,' Hazard said. 'It was incredible. He was my idol when I was a boy.

'I've seen thousands of videos about him and now he is the manager of one of the best clubs in the world, so yes, it's a luxury.' And on a potential move to Madrid? 'In football, you never know.'

For now at least, he is in Premier League, drawing more fouls per game than his fellow players and playing his part in attempting to help Conte stay at Chelsea.