The big losers without VAR Two teams have, comfortably more than any other, benefitted from VAR decisions at crucial times in matches this season — and it earned them European football for next season.
Incredibly, Aston Villa are 10 points worse off without the influence of Stockley Park. That sends the Villans out of the Europa Conference League place and tumbling down three places into 10th.
Villa have had seven VAR calls in their favour, which is far from the highest (that’s Brentford with 11), but five of them came at pivotal points in games and turned draws into victories.
Emiliano Buendia had a goal awarded for an incorrect offside against Leeds United in a game which they won 2-1. Then Southampton ‘s James Ward-Prowse had a goal disallowed for a foul in the buildup that would have given Saints the lead, in a match Villa went on to win 1-0. In March, in the narrow win at home to Crystal Palace, Wilfried Zaha had a goal chalked off for offside. Leicester City had a penalty overturned, and Brighton also had a goal cancelled for offside, in games Villa won 2-1.
Not far behind are Liverpool
Only two clubs have had more VAR interventions in their favour (nine) than Liverpool, and the six goals that were disallowed for the opposition is more than any other club; not one VAR intervention has cost Liverpool points.
In October, Phil Foden had a goal disallowed at Anfield when Erling Haaland was adjudged to have fouled Fabinho in the buildup. That strike would have given Man City the lead, and instead Liverpool went on to win the match 1-0. The VAR table gives City the victory, a swing of three points.
Four other incidents see draws turn to defeats for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Liverpool were 2-0 down against Brighton at Anfield when VAR helped give Mohamed Salah a goal which had been disallowed for offside; the game finished 3-3 but our table gives a Brighton 2-1 win. In September, Conor Coady thought he had bagged a late winner in the goalless draw in the Merseyside derby until the offside lines came out. And while both games against Chelsea finished goalless, the Blues actually had an effort ruled out by the VAR in each.
The big winners without VAR It won’t come as a surprise to learn that Brighton & Hove Albion Manchester City
The Seagulls saw a series of high-profile VAR events go against them, including Alexis Mac Allister ‘s goal being ruled out for handball in their loss at Tottenham, Salah’s goal allowed after an incorrect offside flag, Deniz Undav ‘s goal ruled out for offside at Villa and the penalty awarded to Forest for Lewis Dunk ‘s handball.
Brighton have had the most VAR decisions go against them, with five goals disallowed (only Newcastle and West Ham [six] suffered more.) Roberto De Zerbi’s men did have a few decisions go in their favour, especially towards the end of the season, including the late winner disallowed for Man City striker Erling Haaland . Brighton climb up a place to fifth in the table — but they are three points short of Newcastle in the final Champions League spot.
