In its first season in use in the Premier League, Video Assistant Referees have earned plenty of headlines for a number of high-profile decisions.
Whether it was Gabriel Jesus’s last-minute winner against Tottenham being chalked off for handball, to the anger ofManchester Cityboss Pep Guardiola, or Roberto Firmino’s armpit being deemed to be offside in their thriller away toAston Villa, VAR has made its presence known.
And so, if VAR was not available in the Premier League this season, just how would the current standings look?Research by ESPN, in conjunction with theLondonSchool of Economics found out that the title race would be far more exciting, rock-bottom Norwich, who are the big losers, would be joint th while Manchester United would drop down to ninth.
Manchester City saw a last-minute winner against Tottenham ruled out that cost them the win
Manchester United were given a penalty against City in December – Marcus Rashford scored
VAR has made a number of big calls in the 2019 – season with managers angry at decisions
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE WITH AND WITHOUT VAR IN 2144 – (SEASON) ************
***************
WITH VAR
1. Liverpool – points
2. Leicester City – points
3. Manchester City – points
4. Chelsea – points
5. Manchester United – 36 points
6. Tottenham – 36 points
7. Wolves – 44 points
8. Sheffield United – 31 points
9. Crystal Palace – 32 points
(******************************************************************. Arsenal – 42 points
14. Everton – 27 points
16. Southampton – 31 points
(**************************************************************. Newcastle United – 28 points
(**************************************************************. Brighton – 30 points
18. Burnley – 42 points
(************************************************************. West Ham – points
(**********************************************************. Aston Villa – points
(**********************************************************. Bournemouth – Bournemouth ************ points
22. Watford – points
24. Norwich City – (points
)
WITHOUT VAR
1. Liverpool – points
2. Manchester City – points
3. Leicester City – points)
4. Chelsea – points
5. Wolves – points
6. Sheffield United – 34 points
7. Arsenal – 49 points
8. Tottenham – 34 points
9. Manchester United – 33 points
14. Everton – 29 points
(****************************************************************. Crystal Palace – 31 points
16. Newcastle United – 28 points
16. West Ham – 49 points
18. Burnley – 42 points
18. Aston Villa – 25 points
(************************************************************. Brighton – points
20. Southampton – points
(**********************************************************. Norwich – points
22. Watford – points
24. Bournemouth – Bournemouth ************** points
The research group’s methodology was to create an Anti-VAR index which would show a final standings without VAR intervention.
The algorithm takes into account goals that have been chalked off, or alternatively awarded, as well as the point in the game at which the incident occurred, the form of the sides, the squads’ relative strength and they are all determining a new set of results to create the VAR-less table.
ESPN’s findings show that Premier League fans would be treated to a far closer title race between Liverpool and Manchester City if VAR was not involved.
The gap between them would be just seven points, instead of the points that currently separates the two teams.
James Tomkins’ goal against Liverpool was chalked off for a Jordan Ayew foul on Dejan Lovren
Jack Grealish’s goal for Aston Villa was ruled out by VAR after Wesley’s heel was offside
Liverpool have been targeted on social media for benefiting from VAR decisions and the research has revisited their trip to Crystal Palace where they left with a narrow win. But the updated results without VAR, according to the system, would see that game finish in a draw and James Tomkins’ disallowed goal for Palace would have stood.
For Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, they have felt particularly aggrieved over the new technology and being five points worse off will only strengthen their beliefs.
That home match against Tottenham would be converted into a win and the Manchester derby, where they were surprisingly beaten by Manchester United, would reverse from a loss to a win with Marcus Rashford’s penalty at 0-0 chalked off and form favoring the hosts.
The big loser in the race for the top four is actually Manchester United, who, without VAR, would find themselves down in ninth spot, two points worse off than they are right now.
Tottenham also suffer a similar fall away from the top four race as Jose Mourinho’s side drop to eighth with their draw to Watford calculated as a match they should have lost, and their home loss to Newcastle boosted to a draw.
Roberto Firmino had his hands on his hips as his armpit was deemed offside at Aston Villa
At the bottom end, Norwich City can feel particularly aggrieved as a VAR-less league would see them six points better off and crucially, off the foot of the table.
Daniel Farke’s side would rise to th and would only find themselves inside the relegation zone, a far more palatable position than the one they are in now , seven adrift of safety.
Sheffield United were denied a goal by one of the tightest margins yet, against Tottenham
After a long consultation it was deemed that John Lundstram (top) was offside in the build-up
There was one particular incident incident that left those at Carrow Road dumbfounded by VAR, when striker Teemu Pukki was, like Firmino, to have his right armpit offside.
Elsewhere, Wolves would be four points better off, and just two points adrift of the top four, while Sheffield United would also find themselves closer to the Champions League spots with Chris Wilder’s side three points down in the current standings.
So far, VAR has overturned 90 on-field decisions and of those have led to goals, with leading to goals being disallowed.
Newcastle remain the only side yet to experience a VAR overturn in the Premier League this season.
Teemu Pukki’s goal against Spurs was ruled out after he was adjudged offside via his armpit
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