Erik ten Hag bemoaned Manchester United’s torrid injury record this season ahead of their 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace, where the Dutchman was forced to field another makeshift backline.

His squad was also absent of captain Bruno Fernandes, who missed a match through injury for the first time in his professional career. The season-long crisis has motivated new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to put forward new measures to ensure the issue does not persist into next season.

But data from Transfermarkt shows that the Red Devils don’t even crack the top-three when it comes to games missed by injured players in the Premier League this term.

Pinning United’s poor season on absences may prove to be an effective tactic to shield the Dutchman from the scrutiny headed his way this summer.

But how tough have the Old Trafford outfit really had it on the injury front compared to their rivals? Mail Sport takes a look at the Premier League injury table.

West Ham – 22 games

The Hammers are a strange case, given they have been the most fortunate on the injury front this season, though the issues they have suffered have affected their very best players.

Still, with only six separate injuries across the entire year, the Hammers will feel a little disappointed not to have capitalised on an occurrence unlikely to happen again anytime soon.

Injured West Ham players, which have included the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio, have only missed 22 games this season.

Wolves – 33 games

Gary O’Neil’s side have run out of steam somewhat in recent weeks, thanks in large part to the injury to star man Pedro Neto.

The Portuguese winger has had a frustratingly truncated campaign, either side of substantial hamstring issues.

Wolves had won five in nine before Neto went down against Fulham in March. Since then, they have only one win to their name in eight matches.

In total the Midlands club have had nine injuries, with players missing 33 games of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest – 50

Forest have had the kindest injury luck of the relegation-threatened sides, although, there is not too much to separate themselves and Luton.

To the annoyance of the Hatters, unlike the league standings, Forest sit below them having seen their injured stars miss 50 games this season.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have only had a total of 10 injures in the 2023-24 campaign.

Luton – 58

Rob Edwards’ side look to have blown their unlikely chance to claim Premier League survival after a four-game winless run.

They won’t give up, though, given they are only three points adrift of Forest.

And with games against West Ham and Fulham to come there’s every chance they can still turn their form around. Luton have only had six injuries this season, the same as West Ham.

However, the lengthy absence of skipper Tom Lockyer since his cardiac arrest in December has contributed to a total of 58 games missed.

Manchester City – 59

Pep Guardiola prefers to have a small squad. He has used the joint-fewest number of players this season and, though that approach carries risk, it appears to be paying off once again.

City have had 16 injuries this term but their players have only missed a total of 59 games. That number is nearly half as many as any of the other sides in the top four.

In fact, West Ham are the only other team to have played in European competition in the bottom half of the injury table.

Guardiola’s side have the chance to make history by becoming the first club to win four top-flight titles on the bounce.

Sheffield United – 86

The Blades will be delighted to see themselves five places higher in these alternative standings than in the actual table. Chris Wilder’s side were relegated last month following a 5-1 thrashing by Newcastle.

Sheffield United, like Luton and West Ham, have only had six injuries this term. But, like the Hatters, the Blades suffered a long term ailment to their captain.

Chris Basham sustained a severe lower-leg break in October, ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.

In total, Sheffield United players have missed 86 matches in the Premier League this year.

Burnley – 86

Burnley could follow Sheffield United back to the Championship if results continue to go against them.

Should Vincent Kompany’s side suffer their most likely fate, he will no doubt bemoan their inability to get consistent results until deep into the season.

Kompany has not been averse to tinkering with his squad, having used a joint-third highest 31 players this season.

When it comes to injuries, things have been relatively kind on the Clarets. A total of 10 injuries and 86 matches missed in all.

Fulham – 92

When it comes to Premier League survival, Fulham got their work done early and have been able to to, metaphorically, kick back and ride out the rest of the campaign.

They have suffered more injuries than any other in the bottom half, in fact only five teams have recorded more this season.

Fortunately for the Cottagers, the problems on the whole have not been long lasting, giving the club a total missed number of games of 92.

Everton – 97

Sean Dyche and his team have managed to stave of relegation despite being handed two separate points penalties.

While chaos has reigned off the pitch, the Toffees have taken care of business on it. Their injury record has certainly helped in this regard.

Dyche’s men have had 15 such issues throughout the campaign, accounting for 97 missed matches.

Bournemouth – 114

The Cherries are the first team to rack up a cumulative games missed tally into the hundreds in this list, having been without their stars for 114 outings this term.

Andoni Iraola has still guided the team to a comfortable mid-table position and they still harbour aspirations of securing European qualification.

Bournemouth have also benefited from a relatively low number of injuries this season. They have suffered 11 in total.

Arsenal – 114

Luck is crucial for a title challenge, especially injury luck.

After losing summer signing Jurrien TImber to a season-ending ACL tear 45 minutes into his August debut, many Gunners fans will claim to have experienced their fair share of setback.

But despite racking up 21 injuries over the course of the season, Arsenal’s missed games total of 114 sees them sitting in mid-table.

Mikel Arteta has had to make do without a few of his key players for the odd game, when he has taken advantage of his improved squad depth.

Thankfully no problems have befallen the likes of William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard because then their title bid would have been toast.

Crystal Palace – 116

Oliver Glasner’s arrival has brought with it a new sense of optimism at Selhurst Park.

The goals are raining down, big scalps have been had and the Eagles are well clear of the drop.

Time will tell whether the Austrian can improve in his first full season when he’ll also be hopeful of a better injury record than this campaign.

The London club has only had 12 injuries but they have accounted for a mammoth 116 total missed games. Nearly the mirror image of the Gunners.

Aston Villa – 123

Villa’s disappointment at crashing out of the Europa Conference League will immediately be soothed by confirmation of their Champions League qualification for next season.

Unai Emery’s side were the last English team standing in Europe but have managed to have the relatively modest total of just 12 injuries this season.

But much like Palace, long term injuries to the likes of Tyrone Mings have seen their games missed total skyrocket.

Villa have had injured players out for a stunning 123 matches this season.

Brighton – 159

The Seagulls also enjoyed a European campaign this season, only to end up being dumped out of the Europa League in the round of 16 by Roma.

Roberto De Zerbi has had to deal with his fair share of absences, too.

Known for his preference for shaking up his line-up, a lot the alterations this term have been through necessity rather than want.

Brighton have suffered 20 injuries over the course of the season for a total missed games of 159.

Tottenham – 182

Spurs’ injury problems began to manifest themselves toward the end of the last calendar year and brought a screeching halt to their fanciful title aspirations.

Ange Postecoglou has thrilled home supporters with his unyielding attacking approach, which has been more impressive given the number of absences he has had in his squad.

In total, Tottenham have had 37 separate injuries, totalling 183 missed games this season.

Liverpool – 221

Liverpool’s injury crisis struck after the turn of the year and, in hindsight, almost certainly put pay to their title aspirations.

The Reds were so depleted that Jurgen Klopp handed a host of youngsters runs in the first team. This faith culminated in their League Cup triumph over Chelsea in February.

Liverpool have had 34 total injuries this season but with the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Stefan Bajcetic essentially out for the entire campaign, their games missed figure balloons to 221.

Man United – 233

Unlike the Premier League standings, United sneak into the top four with a total missed games of 233.

Similar to their north west rivals, the number of separate injuries as well as the severity are extraordinary.

The only difference is that Ten Hag’s side have not been able to manage their problems anywhere near as well as the Reds did.

United have seen one more injury among their ranks than Klopp’s side this term.

Brentford – 255

The Bees’ injury problems have flown under the radar, amid the early season focus on Ivan Toney, who was serving a ban for breaches of Premier League betting rules.

But their poor start had as much to do with the season-ending ACL injury to Rico Henry in September and to a lesser extent, Aaron Hickey, who hasn’t played since October.

In all, Thomas Frank has had to deal with 21 separate injuries which have amassed a total of 255 games missed.

Newcastle – 258

Just missing out on top spot with an obscene 38 separate injuries to first team players this season is Newcastle. The fact that any team has endured more than that is absurd.

At one stage of the season it looked as if the Magpies were on the receiving end of some sick cosmic judgement, in some cases, players were stricken almost immediately after coming onto the pitch.

Eddie Howe has somehow managed to weather that storm despite losing players from a combined 258 matches.

They may not be playing Champions League football next season but Europa or Conference League qualification might suit their current stage of evolution better.

Chelsea – 309

The number of injuries Chelsea players have suffered this season doesn’t seem real, nor do the number of games they have missed.

Only two clubs have used more players than the Blues this season and it’s easy to see why.

Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku – the list literally goes on and on and on of players who have had extended spells on the sidelines.

In total the west London club have suffered 54 separate injuries this season, while their tally for games missed is a scarcely believable 309; more than 10 times that of bottom-place West Ham.