The 2022/23 Premier League season has seen its fair share of drama and controversy with the campaign only being a few months old.
A huge handful of those talking points have revolved around the presence of VAR and a number of controversial decisions. The ones that immediately spring to mind are Maxwel Cornet’s goal that was chalked off at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, whilst Newcastle United also saw a winning goal against Crystal Palace inexplicably denied.
That has seen a number of clubs in the Premier League write to the governing body regarding their complaints - and they might well be founded in good reason considering how different the current table would look should the 94 total VAR decisions be wiped away and the technology not be used.
ESPN have taken a close look at that particular situation and taking into account the first VAR decisions of each game, form and expected goals at the time of an incident, they have produced a full table.
Current table-toppers Arsenal retain the front-runners’ position having seen their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United turned into a victory and sees them go two points clear. North London rivals Spurs also leap up to second having earned two more points - their 1-1 draw at West Ham United now being considered a victory.
In the meantime, Leeds United and Everton are also huge beneficiaries of the research. Both clubs jump five places each to seventh and eighth. Jesse Marsch’s men gain one point, whilst Conor Coady’s chalked-off winner against Liverpool sees the Toffees gain an extra two.
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In the meantime, Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers each rise four places. West Ham United also gain one point having seen Cornet’s strike against Chelsea finally counted.
Whilst plenty of clubs in the Premier League have been on the harsh side of VAR, others have benefited and would thus be worse off should the technology be taken away. Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United would drop without VAR, losing three points, leaving them in ninth in the Premier League table.
Fierce rivals Liverpool would also drop considerably and would sit just below the Red Devils in tenth.
Chelsea and Brentford though would slip even further without the presence of VAR. They would each slump five places to 12th and 14th respectively.
Other clubs have also seen positive outcomes from the system so far this season and would thus be the victim of slips. Newly-promoted Nottingham Forest would drop two points having seen their win against West Ham transform into a draw - the Hammers having a goal disallowed for a foul by Michail Antonio.
Crystal Palace are the only other team to lose out on points as their draw against Newcastle becomes a defeat.
Southampton and Aston Villa both drop in the table but do not lose out on any points, whilst Fulham rise to fifth but have also not seen their points total altered at all.
Finally, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leicester City and Newcastle all stay in the same position and on the same points.
Take a look at the full table, the club’s resultant points total without VAR and the difference with their current totals below:
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Arsenal (21, +3)
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Tottenham Hotspur (17, +2)
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Manchester City (17, 0)
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Brighton & Hove Albion (13, 0)
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Fulham (11, 0)
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Bournemouth (10, +2)
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Leeds United (9, +1)
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Everton (9, +2)
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Manchester United (9, -3)
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Liverpool (8, -1)
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Newcastle United (8, 0)
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Chelsea (8, -2)
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Wolverhampton Wanderers (8, +2)
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Brentford (7, -2)
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Southampton (7, 0)
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Aston Villa (7, 0)
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Crystal Palace (5, -1)
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West Ham United (5, +1)
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Nottingham Forest (2, -2)
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Leicester City (1, 0)
