MANCHESTER City would have been World Cup table toppers without VAR.
Sun Sport has analysed the changed decisions at every Premier League game so far this season.
Manchester City would be top of the Prem if there was no VAR
VAR has been a hot topic of debate again this season
On-field calls have been overturned on 45 occasions in the 146 matches played so far, with six goals awarded after review and 16 annulled.
And our study finds that, without the input of the men in the video booth at Stockley Park, the top two would have swapped places, with City leading into the six-week break on goal difference.
The change is down to City’s defeat at Liverpool, when Phil Foden’s “goal” was disallowed on review for a foul by Erling Haaland and the offside flag against Miguel Almiron being overturned in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
They are among four VAR changes that have gone against Pep Guardiola’s men, with only one – earning them a penalty in the 3-1 win over Brighton – going their way.
Arsenal “drop” two points due to the injury-time penalty for Leeds that was changed on review and would have meant a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.
There is also a change of position in third and fourth, with Spurs and Newcastle swapping places.
The table shows Fulham and Liverpool have been the biggest beneficiaries of VAR.
Liverpool would be four points and three places worse off – the City win would have been a draw while the draws with Everton and Brighton become “defeats”.
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Marco Silva’s Cottagers would be two points and five places further down the table.
By contrast, Bournemouth would have been two points and three places higher without VAR changes.
But there would have been no significant changes at the wrong end of the table, with the same teams filling the bottom three.
The 45 changed decisions compare to 56 at the same stage of last season.
Strangely, of the 14 penalties awarded by VAR review, barely half – just eight – have been converted, with six missed.
