Revealed: Liverpool would ‘NOT be top of the Premier League without VAR this season’ – while Ruben Amorim’s struggling Man United ‘would be in the top half’
Liverpool would be knocked off their Premier League perch in a world without VAR, according to a report.
Arne Slot’s men would drop by one point to 55, while Arsenal surging past them.
The Gunners would be six points better off than they are and one ahead of Liverpool.
They have had a grand total of five decisions changed by VAR getting involved in their matches and three of have denied them wins, though they were all right.
Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth would complete the top four – Forest would remain on 47 points while the Cherries would jump by five to 45.
Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brighton, and Manchester United would complete the top half, with Ruben Amorim’s side elevated by four points and three places, as per The Sun’s calculations.
Liverpool would not be top of the Premier League if VAR didn’t exist, a report has calculated
Arsenal would overtake the champions-elect by a point, with three extra wins to their name
VAR would have a profound difference for some teams, elevating Man United into the top half
Down in the relegation zone, the three promoted teams would still be stuck, but Ipswich would have a point more and therefore overtake Leicester in 18th.
Newcastle have reportedly benefited most frequently from VAR calls, having 10 go in their favour and only two against.
Liverpool have gained a point from VAR’s help, with Mohamed Salah converting the penalty after Matthijs de Ligt was judged to have committed a handball in their 2-2 draw in January.
Meanwhile, Arteta has a history of piping up about VAR decisions, notably slamming it as an ‘absolute disgrace’ after it failed to rule out Anthony Gordon’s goal when Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 in November 2023. For that, he was charged by the FA.
This campaign, VAR correctly denied them wins against Chelsea, Fulham, and Aston Villa.
Kai Havertz appeared to shush fans after scoring in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in November, only for it to be disallowed for offside.
In December, Gabriel Martinelli was ruled as offside in the build-up to Bukayo Saka’s supposed winner against Fulham, with Paul Merson slamming him as ‘criminal’ for straying off.
And in January, Mikel Merino’s shot for his ‘goal’ had deflected off Havertz’s arm and was therefore scrubbed off.
Bournemouth would climb into the top four of the Premier League with five more points
Ruben Amorim would be under less pressure in a world without the checks of VAR
Bournemouth fans would have plenty to celebrate without VAR, being catapulted into the Champions League spots to improve an already thrilling season.
Howard Webb said that their Dango Ouattara’s late winner against Newcastle in August should not have been ruled out for VAR by handball, meaning they could legitimately have taken the spoils.
‘The VAR looked at it and decided, in his professional opinion, that it hits the area of the arm that has to be penalised below the bottom of the arm pit,’ Webb said.
‘That’s the importance reference point. I don’t think that’s conclusive enough to intervene.
