Premier League table without VAR spins title race on its head

16 February 2023 , 13:46

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Premier League table without VAR spins title race on its head

Manchester City would be three points clear at the top without VAR overturning goal decisions in the Premier League this season.

Following last night’s 3-1 victory over title rivals Arsenal, City returned to the top of the Premier League on goal difference, though Mikel Arteta’s Gunners do still have a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s side.

But although this particular encounter was devoid of any major VAR controversy, there have been countless occasions this season where technology has dictated the result of a match in the Premier League, prompting the question: Just how would the table look if VAR didn’t exist?

For the purposes of this alternate table, every goal that was awarded or disallowed thanks to VAR overturning the on-field decision has had the decision reversed, and results changed accordingly.

And the most immediate difference in the table is that Manchester City would actually be three points better off.

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Without VAR, Miguel Almiron’s goal for Newcastle in August would have been ruled offside, as it was by the onfield officials, turning a 3-3 draw into a win, while Phil Foden ’s goal against Liverpool would have stood, having been ruled out after VAR spotted a foul in the buildup by Erling Haaland. Those decisions were the major VAR calls which affected results for City, while other VAR overturns have not impacted the result of the match.

The Premier League table without VAR

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Elsewhere in the table, Brighton and Newcastle would have swapped places, with the Seagulls climbing to fourth place, on 39 points, and Newcastle falling out of the Champions League spots down to sixth in the table on 38 points.

Despite their woeful season, Liverpool have been the biggest beneficiaries of VAR this season, and would actually be five points worse off if goal decisions had not been overruled in their favour on numerous occasions.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have also done well from VAR overturns, and are each four points better off than if the original decisions had stood for all goals in their games.

At the other end of the spectrum, Leeds United have dropped three points following VAR overturns, and would not be quite so close to the bottom three were it not for the video assistant referee.

Manchester City are also three points worse off, but it’s Brighton that have been most adversely affected by the technology, as they have missed out on four points due to VAR overturns this season, which puts their already fantastic season into even greater focus.

James Chittick