Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace change positions in new-look Premier League table without VAR

Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace would all be sitting in different positions in the Premier League table in a world where the wasn’t VAR to watch over referee decisions in the top flight this season.

It was Enzo Maresca’s side who were punished by VAR against Brighton in the latest round of fixtures, defender Trevoh Chalobah given his marching orders for a tactical foul in the second half. The announcement from referee Simon Hooper said: “After review, there was a clear foul by the Chelsea No 23. Therefore, it denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, resulting in a red card and a free-kick. Final decision is a red card to Chelsea No 23.”

LondonWorld has trawled through the Premier League Match Centre updates this season and looked at each time a VAR overturn has led to a goal or disallowed goal that determined the result of the game. This is how the table would look.

Premier League table without VAR

1st - Liverpool, 15 points

2nd (+1) - Crystal Palace, 14 points

The Eagles would have picked up three points rather than one against Chelsea if Eberechi Eze’s early free kick had not been disallowed. A Match Centre statement read: “After review, away number six is less than one metre away from the wall as the shot is taken. Therefore, it's an indirect free kick and a disallowed goal.”

3rd (-1) - Arsenal, 13 points

4th - Tottenham Hotspur, 11 points

5th (+1) - Bournemouth, 11 points

6th (+1) - Manchester City, 10 points

7th (-2) - Sunderland, 9 points (-2 points)

The Black Cats would have only picked up one point rather than three against Brentford if Bees star Dango Ouattara had not seen his goal chalked off for offside. Sunderland won that match 2-1.

8th (+1) - Everton, 8 points

9th (+1) - Brighton, 8 points

10th (+1) - Fulham, 8 points

11th (+1) - Leeds, 8 points

12th (+1) - Brentford, 8 points (+1 point)

Brentford would have picked up a point against Sunderland if Ouattara’s goal had not been disallowed. A Match Centre statement read: “VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Ouattara was in an offside position in the build-up and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”

Chelsea drop down league without help of VAR

13th (-5) - Chelsea, 7 points (-1 point)

Would not have picked up a point against Crystal Palace on the opening day, should Eberechi Eze’s free kick had not been disallowed.

14th (+1) - Newcastle, 6 points

15th (+1) - Aston Villa, 6 points

16th (-2) - Manchester United, 5 points (-2 points)

The Red Devils would have benefitted from VAR is Bruno Fernandes converted his spot kick against Fulham, following the system’s intervention. However, the Portuguese star missed and his side had to settle for a point.

Fernandes was on target from the spot against Burnley in injury time, after VAR awarded Manchester United a penalty at Old Trafford at the end of August. That secured a late 3-2 win.

17th - Nottingham Forest, 5 points

18th - Burnley, 5 points (+1 point)

The Clarets would have picked up a point against Manchester United if VAR had not penalised them late on and awarded the hosts a penalty. The referee announcement was: “After review, Burnley eleven has a sustained pulling action on Manchester United sixteen, which results in a penalty kick. My final decision is yellow card and penalty.”

19th - West Ham, 4 points

20th - Wolves, 1 points

In other news, 'My Chelsea' - Jose Mourinho asked if he will return to Stamford Bridge as manager again.