Arsenal would be three points behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table if it were not for VAR. That may be hard to believe, given the decisions that have gone against the Gunners this season, but if VAR had not intervened at all, Arsenal would be adrift of Pep Guardiola's side.
Following Wednesday night’s 3-1 victory over title rivals Arsenal, Manchester 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?
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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.
Manchester City would have just gone three points clear at the top of the Premier League after their 3-1 victory over Arsenal saw them go top in real life on goal difference.
But one of the most striking differences in the table is that Brighton would actually be fourth were it not for VAR.
Without VAR, Pervis Estupinan’s 32nd-minute goal against Crystal Palace last week would have stood, with the on-field officials not flagging for offside until VAR intervened, while Roberto Firmino’s goal for Liverpool would not have stood in their October draw after the flag went up before VAR awarded the goal upon review.
Those four points would have seen Brighton leapfrog both Newcastle and Tottenham into the top four, on 39 points.
No other side has seen VAR claim more points from them this season. Newcastle would fall 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.
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