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...
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13. 8th: Brighton - 10 points ( -2 points)
Brighton currently sit on 12 points but that total would be reduced to 10 without the intervention of VAR to disallow Joshua Zirkzee's goal for Manchester United against the Seagulls. Brighton won that fixture 2-1 in the end. Had one VAR decision go against them and one for them in their opening-day win over Everton as they went on to win 3-0. | Getty Images
14. 7th: Bournemouth - 12 points (+4 points)
The Cherries could have had a strong record if not for VAR. Dango Ouattara has had two goals ruled out by Stockley Park with a controversial handball decision denying him the glory in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle Untied as his stoppage-time winner was chalked off. Against Nottingham Forest a week previous, he saw a goal ruled out for an offside against Lewis Cook. That game also finished 1-1. Also had a goal ruled out for offside in a 3-0 loss to Liverpool. | Getty Images
15. 6th: Fulham - 13 points (+2 points)
Fulham beat Leicester City 2-1 last month with the Foxes' goal initially ruled out for an offside against Jamie Vardy. However, after a check Wout Faes was able to celebrate an equaliser but Fulham battled back to earn all three points. Earned all three points late last month after VAR intervened in a penalty award for a foul by Murillo on Andreas Pereira. Raúl Jiménez scored it for a 1-0 win. | Getty Images
16. 5th: Aston Villa - 14 points
VAR has not overturned any decisions for or against Unai Emery's side this season. | AFP via Getty Images