Craig Pawson was at the centre of two controversial VAR calls as Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night.

Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur under the lights at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night in a big boost for their Champions League hopes in a fixture overshadowed by VAR controversy.

The Blues thought they had taken a 2-0 lead when Moises Caicedo fired home from a volley on the edge of the box, only for that goal to be chalked out for an offside infringement in the free kick that came prior. Just moments later Ange Postecoglou led Spurs celebrations after Pape Matar Sarr scored from distance, but that was eventually disallowed for a foul by the midfielder.

Speaking after the match, Postecoglou said: "It's killing the game, mate. It's not the same game as it used to be. The referee gave it and then needed six minutes [to rule the goal out] for something the VAR official thought was clear and obvious. It's crazy, mate. It's madness."

LondonWorld looks at an updated Premier League table without VAR to see how the division would sit if the system simply had not existed this term.

Premier League table without VAR

20th - Southampton, 11 points (+1)

VAR had a role to play as the Saints threw away a 2-0 lead against Leicester City earlier in the season. One of the Foxes' three goals came after VAR deemed that Ryan Fraser had pulled Jamie Vardy back, the veteran striker scoring from the spot kick.

19th - Leicester City, 14 points (-3)

Struggling Leicester City would be even worse off without VAR this season.

18th - Ipswich Town, 18 points (-2)

Would have shared a point with Spurs rather than claiming all three if Dominic Solanke’s goal had stood. Did also see a João Félix goal disallowed for offside in their 2-0 win over Chelsea. Had a penalty given against them when facing Fulham, as they settled for a 2-2 draw. Were helped by VAR against AFC Bournemouth, with the video assistant signalling that a tackle on Antoine Semenyo actually occurred outside the box and should not have been a penalty.

17th - Wolves, 30 points (+1)

Wolves would have claimed a point at Manchester City if VAR had not intervened and ruled that John Stones' 95th-minute winner should stand.

16th - West Ham, 30 points (-4)

Benefited from a late penalty against Manchester United, which Jarrod Bowen converted, to pick up an extra two points thanks to VAR. Also had a penalty awarded in the 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth, which Lucas Paqueta scored from. VAR intervened against Everton last weekend to determine that a penalty given for a Max Kilman foul on Beto should not stand.

15th - Tottenham Hotspur, 34 points

Would have picked up a point against Ipswich Town if Dominic Solanke's goal had stood. However, the point against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday would have been nothing should Semenyo’s goal have stood and VAR not intervened for offside. Had the Pape Sarr goal disallowed against Chelsea but the Blues also had a goal chalked off in that match.

14th - Everton, 36 points (+2)

The Toffees beat Brighton at the AMEX Stadium but their 1-0 win came thanks to an Iliman Ndiaye penalty, which was awarded thanks to VAR. Everton would have had an extra two points if the last gasp penalty against Manchester United was not overturned by VAR (we are presuming that would have been scored). The Toffees saw a penalty given against West Ham overturned - if they had scored that, the Merseyside side would have picked up all three points in a 2-1 win.

13th - Manchester United, 41 points (+4)

The Red Devils would have likely picked up at least an extra point with a draw against Brighton should a Joshua Zirkzee goal have stood. Instead, it was ruled out for offside. Then, against Liverpool, they could have claimed all three points if not for VAR intervening after a handball by Matthijs de Ligt that saw a penalty awarded to the hosts. Helped to a point against Everton thanks to VAR ruling out a late Toffees penalty.

12th - Crystal Palace, 42 points (+2)

The Eagles have not been friends of VAR this season with the system costing them two points.

11th - Fulham, 43 points (-2)

Wouldn't have picked up a point against Arsenal if Bukayo Saka's late goal at Craven Cottage had stood. Also had VAR award a penalty, scored by Raul Jimenez, in their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town.

10th - Brentford, 43 points (+2)

Yoane Wissa's goal disallowed for offside against Brighton would have been enough for all three points on December 27.

9th - Aston Villa, 45 points (-3)

The Villains were awarded a penalty against Crystal Palace thanks to VAR, but Youri Tielemans saw his spot kick saved anyway. There was a Watkins goal from the penalty spot against Brighton as already highlighted above. That helped earn a point for the hosts. VAR intervened to allow Villa a goal against Chelsea at the weekend too with Marcus Rashford judged to be onside, helping Unai Emery's side to a 2-1 win.

8th - Newcastle United, 46 points (-4)

The Magpies earned a draw at Bournemouth but only after VAR intervened to rule out a late winner for the home side. Everton also had a goal ruled out by VAR against Eddie Howe’s men. Newcastle United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 but needed VAR to award them a penalty to do so, which Alexander Isak scored.

7th - Brighton, 48 points (+1)

Yoane Wissa had a goal disallowed for offside for Brentford in a 0-0 draw while the Seagulls saw a VAR call go against them when Aston Villa were awarded a penalty for a foul by Joao Pedro on Morgan Rogers. Ollie Watkins scored it as the sides drew 2-2. Everton also claimed a 1-0 win against them thanks to a VAR awarded penalty.

6th - Manchester City, 49 points (-2)

The Champions would be two points worse off without VAR as the system helped award the John Stones winner against Wolves.

How VAR has affected Premier League race for Europe

5th - AFC Bournemouth, 51 points (+7)

It's been an impressive campaign from the Cherries, who would have even more points if VAR wasn't in place. Bournemouth would also have picked up three points against West Ham if the London outfit hadn't been given a penalty by VAR. They were also denied a late winner against Newcastle after a handball was spotted. The draw against Spurs would have been a win too had Antoine Semenyo’s 51st minute goal not been ruled off for offside. Had a penalty against Ipswich Town changed to a free-kick - if they had scored that it would have been 2-2.

4th - Chelsea, 52 points

The Blues picked up an extra point thanks to VAR spotting that Kai Havertz was offside for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. As mentioned, Felix was denied a goal at Ipswich in their 2-0 loss. The extra point picked up was cancelled out against Aston Villa last weekend with VAR allowing a goal for the opposition when reversing an offside goal. VAR played a key role against Spurs on Thursday night, but both sides saw goals disallowed so the system’s existence would not have changed the result.

3rd - Nottingham Forest, 58 points (+1)

Would've earned a point in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United if VAR had not intervened to award the Magpies a penalty, which Alexander Isak scored.

2nd - Arsenal, 67 points (+6)

The Gunners would have extra points if Kai Havertz's opener against Chelsea had stood, as well as Bukayo Saka's winner at Craven Cottage. Havertz was penalised by VAR against Aston Villa, disallowing a goal which would have seen the Gunners pick up all three points. William Saliba was also sent off against Bournemouth after VAR intervention.

1st- Liverpool, 70 points (-3)

The league leaders would be three points worse off without VAR this season. Most recently, they had a penalty awarded after VAR intervention against Manchester United. They also won a penalty against Southampton but won that match 3-1 anyway.