Liverpool sit top of the Premier League after nine games with Arsenal and Manchester City just a point behind as clubs take a break from action. The international fixtures are taking centre stage before the top-flight English sides return to domestic action. The Gunners are hoping to finally dethrone City as Premier League champions but look like they’ll also need to overcome the Reds to end their 20-year wait for a league title.
Fulham have enjoyed an impressive start to the league campaign and sit on 11 points, one above Tottenham Hotspur while Brentford are a point further back. Spurs entered the international break on the back of a humiliating 3-2 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion as they threw away a two-goal lead on the south coast. West Ham are on eight points after an inconsistent start while Crystal Palace have had the worst start of any London side, as they sit in the bottom three and are without a win so far. But how might the early table look without the impact of VAR? The technology has been a focus of debate and contention since it’s introduction with Wolves even going as far to table a vote over the summer to scrap the system - it did not pass, however.
Following the involvements from VAR this season we have looked at how the table might look without the use of the technology. Factoring in VAR decisions that led to goals being disallowed or awarded by Stockley Park, including via penalties, here’s how the table might look as things stand...

1. 20th: Wolves - 1 point
VAR awarded a penalty to Brentford in Wolves' 5-3 defeat ahead of the international break. Bryan Mbeumo scored it. | Wolves via Getty Images

2. 19th: Southampton - 1 point
Southampton have had a tough start to life back in the Premier League but have not had any VAR contention to deal with so far. | Getty Images

3. 18th: Crystal Palace - 2 points (- 1 point)
Without VAR, Palace would be a point worse off after Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal was awarded after an incorrect offside in their 2-2 draw with Leicester City. | Getty Images

4. 17th: Ipswich Town - 4 points
There has been the one VAR decision against the Premier League new boys but it came in a game they lost 4-1 at Man City. | Getty Images