Life before VAR was different. When goals would fly in undissected and celebrations could go on uninterrupted. That was a life without the need for weekly referee shows and the dreaded wait for the finest offside calls, but it is ultimately the reality of modern-day Premier League football.
Alas, what if it wasn’t? What if VAR didn’t exist? And the Premier League was forced to rely on the timing of the linesman’s flag and the whistle of the referee and referee only?
Stat site quawka have played out that scenario and put together the Premier League table without VAR errors this season.
The ‘errors’ are voted by Squawka followers in polls based on the most controversial VAR calls every week and the latest standings have now been revealed.
Note: The standings have been compiled on the basis that penalties which should have been awarded would have been converted.
20 Wolverhampton Wanderers: +/- 0 places
Unfortunately for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans, not even a life without VAR errors would be enough to stop their current rot. The Midlands side are yet to have an error go against them, but have actually had one go in their favour.
With or without VAR, Rob Edwards’ side sit rock bottom on two points and without a single win in the first 12 games of the Premier League season. Whether it comes courtesy of refereeing decisions or on their own merit, Wolves desperately need three points from somewhere.
19 Leeds United: -1 place
With one error going their way, Leeds United should be among the few sides grateful for VAR in the Premier League this season. The Whites would be two points worse off without it and one position lower than where they currently find themselves.
Defeat at the hands of Aston Villa left Daniel Farke’s men in the dropzone last time out and those at Elland Road now have the task of keeping their composure in a desperate attempt to survive at the first time of asking.
18 Burnley: +1 place
Although they’ve had one error go against them and none in their favour, Burnley’s point total wouldn’t change without VAR. The Clarets would remain on 10 points, but in 18th rather than 19th. That shows just how tight the relegation scrap is down at the bottom and the difficulty of the task on Scott Parker’s hands.
The Burnley boss will at least be hoping to have more VAR calls go in his side’s favour in the coming months.
17 West Ham United: +/- 0 places
Like Burnley, West Ham United’s point total wouldn’t change if VAR wasn’t around. The Hammers would still sit just outside the dropzone on 11 points, despite having one VAR error in their favour.
Nuno Espirito Santo has so far done an impressive job to steer those at the London Stadium in the right direction, but will be well aware that there’s still plenty to do, with or without the help of VAR.
16 Nottingham Forest: +/- 0 places
At their third attempt this season, it seems as though Nottingham Forest have got their managerial appointment right. Sean Dyche mirrored Nuno’s achievement from last season by winning at Anfield, but did so in far better style – thrashing the Reds 3-0 in shocking fashion.
It was in that game that the Tricky Trees had a VAR error go against them, when Igor Jesus’ goal was controversially disallowed for handball just before the break. It wasn’t enough to stop Forest, however, whose points and position have not been affected by the technology.
15 Brentford: -1 place
Having had two VAR errors go in their favour and two go against them, it’s been a busy season for the technology at Brentford. As it turns out, the Bees would rather have the video assistant available, given that they’d have lost a point without it and drop down to 15th.
It has been a solid start for Keith Andrews, who is proving doubters wrong every week, but he will be well aware that every point matters in the Premier League.
14 Fulham: +1 place
Fulham manager Marco Silva
If anyone has reason to complain about VAR this season, it is Fulham. The West London side would move up one place in the Premier League and would have collected an extra two points without the technology this season.
Marco Silva’s men have had one error go their way and three go against them – the worst difference in the Premier League. As they look to push on from early relegation concerns, the Cottagers will be desperate for that to change.
13 Newcastle United: +1 place
Just like Fulham, Newcastle Unitedwould be two points better off without VAR and would be sat in 13th, rather than 14th. Of course, it still wouldn’t be enough to hide how poor Eddie Howe’s side have been at times in the current campaign, but life without the technology would have at least taken them closer to European places.
Howe is unlikely to look for excuses, however, and will be aware that the Magpies simply must kick on before they are down and out in the race for Champions League qualification. They’ve had two errors go their way and three against them.
12 Liverpool: +/- 0 places
Liverpool can’t even fall back on VAR controversy to hide just how disastrous their title defence is going. The Reds would still sit on just 18 points after 12 games without the technology.
That said, no team in the Premier League has had more VAR errors go against them than the four that Liverpool have. Whilst Arne Slot’s side simply haven’t been good enough, they could certainly do with a tad more luck when it comes to the officiating.
11 Bournemouth: -3 places
Without VAR, Bournemouth would be one point worse off and sit 11th rather than eighth — highlighting just how tight much of the Premier League table is after 12 games. The Cherries have largely impressed in the current campaign, but have had the fortune of enjoying two VAR errors in their favour and none against them.
Just one point adrift of the Champions League places, Andoni Iraola could yet Bournemouth to greater heights than ever before in the Premier League.
10 Everton: +1 place
With only one VAR error going in their favour and as many as three going against them, Everton would be one position better and in 10th in a world without the technology, even though their own point total wouldn’t change.
David Moyes’ side have shown plenty of glimpses of quality in the current campaign, but will be hoping to have more calls in their favour rather than watching on as Idrissa Gueye’s slap on his own teammate, Michael Keane results in a red card.
9 Manchester United: +1 place
Like Everton, Manchester United would move up a position in the Premier League without VAR. The Red Devils would be up to ninth, yet still on 18 points after 12 games.
Ruben Amorim’s side have largely been unfortunate when it comes to the technology this season, with three errors going against them and just two going in their favour. As they look to finally turn things around, the last thing they need is VAR controversy.
8 Tottenham Hotspur: +1 place
There was nothing that VAR could do to prevent Arsenal’s thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby, but Thomas Frank’s side would be one place better off without it. The Lilywhites would be up to eighth, having had two errors against them and just the one fall in their favour.
Given how tight the Premier League table is, the Lilywhites will be looking for better fortunes on the pitch and in the VAR room in the coming months.
7 Brighton & Hove Albion: -1 place
Although Brighton & Hove Albion’s point’s total wouldn’t change without VAR, they would move down and place and crucially out of the top six. The Seagulls have had one error go their way and one go against them in what sums up their own inconsistency under Fabian Hurzeler at times.
The young manager will have high ambitions for his side in the current campaign and their start suggests that European qualification is certainly possible.
6 Aston Villa: -2 places
They’d still be on 21 points, but Aston Villa would drop out of the top four without VAR and down to sixth in the Premier League. Unai Emery’s side got off to a slow start but have since been firing on all cylinders to make an early claim for the European places once again.
The Villans have benefitted from three decisions in their favour and none against them so far in one of the most fortunate records across the Premier League.
5 Sunderland: +2 places
Unlike Villa, Sunderland would benefit from a life without VAR. The Black Cats would be two points and two places better off, moving up to fifth. Regis Le Bris’ side have been extraordinary to watch so far, as they’ve broken the mold of struggling promoted sides to bust into the top half and more.
What makes their run even more impressive is that they’ve not had a VAR error go in their favour, but had one go against them in frustrating fashion.
4 Crystal Palace: +1 place
The same can be said for Crystal Palace. The Eagles have been excellent this season, despite losing Eberechi Eze in the summer, but two VAR errors have cost them a place in the top four so far.
Without the technology, Oliver Glasner’s side would be on course to achieve shock Champions League qualification, albeit with plenty of football still to play.
3 Manchester City: +/- 0 places
Statistically speaking, Manchester City have been the most fortunate when it comes to VAR errors in the Premier League so far this season.
The Citizens have enjoyed three errors in their favour and none against them, as they’ve attempted to maintain their chase on leaders Arsenal. Those errors have not changed anything for Pep Guardiola’s side, though, who’d still be sat third and on 22 points if VAR wasn’t around.
2 Chelsea: +/- 0 places
Chelsea would be a point better off and just three away from Arsenal if VAR didn’t exist, but that wouldn’t be enough to see them swap their second place for the top spot in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca’s side have also had more errors go in their favour (3), than they have had go against them (2) and they’ll be hoping for similar luck for the rest of the campaign.
1 Arsenal: +/- 0 places
Not even VAR has been able to stop champions elect Arsenal so far this season. The Gunners would still sit top of the Premier League without the technology, albeit three points clear rather than their current six.
Mikel Arteta knows more than most just how much fine margins matter and those extra three points could prove to be crucial as he looks to win his first Premier League title as a manager. The league leaders have so far had two errors for and two errors against them, but can have little complaints at the summit.