After 23 Games, How Would The Premier League Table Look Without VAR?

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been a controversial addition to the Premier League.

Since it was introduced in 2019, it has been the subject of endless amounts of TV debate and newspaper column inches.

When it is utilised for penalties, red cards and offsides, it can play a pivotal role in deciding the outcome of a game.

Press the next page to find out whether your club would have more or fewer points if VAR wasn’t in use after 23 matches played this season.

Relegation Zone

20th: Sheffield United – 9 Pts (-1 Difference)
19th: Burnley – 15 Pts (+2 Difference)
18th: Everton – 19 Pts (0 Difference)

The Blades would actually have even fewer points than they have now without VAR.

Burnley would, however, be slightly better off, even if they would still be cut adrift at the bottom of the table.

There hasn’t been a net gain or net loss for Everton, with the Toffees still in the relegation places.

Of course, the reason that Sean Dyche’s side are so far down the table is due to their 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules.

Relegation Strugglers

17th: Nottingham Forest – 20 Pts (-1 Difference)
16th: Luton Town – 21 Pts (+1 Difference)
15th: Brentford – 22 Pts (0 Difference)
14th: Crystal Palace – 24 Pts (0 Difference)

Without decisions made by the Video Assistant Referee, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town would have swapped places in the table.

The Hatters would be even further above trouble than they actually are, with one additional point.

Brentford and Crystal Palace are exactly where they should be, with VAR having no impact on their positions.

However, neither side will want to be as close as they are currently to the relegation places when the season finishes in May.

Mid-table

13th: Fulham – 24 Pts (-2 Difference)
12th: Chelsea – 26 Pts (-5 Difference)
11th: Bournemouth – 27 Pts (0 Difference)
10th: Newcastle United – 31 Pts (-2 Difference)

Fulham would still be in 13th place but they would actually have two fewer points, at this stage, moving them dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Out of all the teams in the top-flight, Chelsea have been the biggest beneficiaries this season from the existence of VAR.

Without the intervention of the video official, they would be in even worse shape than they are now, and manager Mauricio Pochettino would be under even more pressure.

They would drop below Bournemouth into 12th, with the Cherries moving up a position behind Newcastle (who also move down from 9th).

Top 10

9th: Wolves – 33 Pts (+1 Difference)
8th: Brighton – 35 Pts (0 Difference)
7th: West Ham United – 36 Pts (0 Difference)
6th: Manchester United – 39 Pts (+1 Difference)

Wolves have been the victim of a few poor VAR decisions this campaign but Gary O’Neil’s side would only have one more point without its impact.

It would still move them above Newcastle, though, which demonstrates how thin the margins are in terms of positions and how the video official’s decisions can change outcomes.

Brighton and West Ham would be exactly where they are at the moment in the Premier League table.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are also still in 6th but they would be one point closer to the Champions League places.

Champions League qualification

5th: Tottenham – 42 Pts (-2 Difference)
4th: Aston Villa – 48 Pts (+2 Difference)
3rd: Arsenal – 48 Pts (-1 Difference)
2nd: Manchester City – 49 Pts (0 Difference)
1st: Liverpool – 50 Pts (-1 Difference)

While Spurs would remain 5th, Ange Postecoglou’s team would be on 42 points, rather than 44, without the involvement of VAR.

Aston Villa, in contrast, would be much closer to top spot, within two points rather than the five-point gap it is at the moment.

Arsenal would still be two points off the top of the table but, like Liverpool, they would be one point further back.

City would be the main winners if VAR wasn’t in force, being just one off top spot with a game in hand.