The big losers without VAR Look away, Liverpool fans, because Jurgen Klopp’s team are sent spiraling down the Premier League table once VAR interventions are removed. The Reds drop five points, and six places — tumbling from 6th to 12th. They are closer to the relegation places (five points) than they are to the Europa League place (six points.)
So, why do Liverpool drop so far? It’s really about when and who against the key VAR decisions came. It was 0-0 in the 53rd minute against Manchester City at Anfield when Phil Foden had a goal disallowed for a foul in the buildup by Erling Haaland on Fabinho . Although Liverpool went on to win the game 1-0, all events from that VAR intervention are cancelled and it continues as though City have a 1-0 lead — which they hold on to. It creates a six-point swing between the two teams; in fact, our VAR table has Liverpool a huge 18 points behind City and 21 adrift of league leaders Arsenal .
Liverpool lose another point when the 3-3 draw at home to Brighton becomes a loss, with the Reds awarded a goal to Mohamed Salah after an offside review. They also lose the Merseyside derby to Everton , with that 0-0 draw being secured after the VAR ruled out a Conor Coady goal for offside.
Next up it’s Manchester United
Brentford Nottingham Forest conceded a VAR penalty when they were leading at home to the west London club; that draw becomes a Forest win, meaning Brentford lose a total of three points.
Crystal Palace
Another team with Champions League hopes, Newcastle United Fulham had a player sent off in the fifth minute when the score was 0-0 at Craven Cottage (win becomes a draw, -2), and Wolves had a goal disallowed to go 2-0 up in a match which finished as a draw (-1). That’s a total of four points gained through VAR, but that one decision which went against them in a 0-0 draw at home to Palace takes two points away.
Chelsea Jarrod Bowen was penalised for a foul on goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Completing the list of teams who lose out without VAR are Nottingham Forest , with a net loss of one point. Steve Cooper’s men would have been winners without VAR until Morgan Gibbs-White ‘s disallowed goal against Brentford was overturned, giving Forest a victory when the game was headed for a draw.
The big winners without VAR West Ham United
Even though they benefitted from a cancelled Spurs penalty in a draw at the London Stadium, other decisions have gone against them. The VAR disallowed West Ham goals in a 1-0 defeat at Forest and a 2-1 loss at Chelsea, and cancelled their late penalty against Palace when the score was 1-1.
The next team to suffer from VAR are title challengers Manchester City , who get three points back. Only one result is affected by the VAR, with that loss at Liverpool becoming a victory.
As a result, Arsenal see their lead over City at the top of the Premier League cut from five points to three. Arsenal’s win at Leeds becomes a draw, after the home side had an injury-time penalty cancelled by the VAR, costing them two points. But the loss at Man United, when the Gunners had a goal disallowed early in the game, becomes a victory — a net gain of one point over the season.
Tottenham Hotspur
Into the European places are Brighton & Hove Albion AFC Bournemouth
There’s some relief for Frank Lampard’s Everton , with the two points they receive increasing the gap to the relegation zone from one point to four. They gain two points from Coady’s offside goal in the draw at Man United. Leeds United
Fulham , up one point and two places into seventh, are the final team to benefit without VAR.
Aston Villa , Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are the only teams to remain on the same points.
