LIVERPOOL would sink close to a relegation fight if VAR didn’t exist.
And Tottenham would leapfrog Manchester United into the top four.
Jurgen Klopp would be raging even more if his mid-table Liverpool side hadn’t benefited from VAR decisions this seasonCredit: AFP
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag would see in-form Marcus Rashford and Co fall out of the Champions League spots were it not for video replaysCredit: Getty
That’s the verdict from an old-style Premier League table – one WITHOUT key decisions made by video replays.
ESPN compiled the Prem’s alternative look, with Arsenal’s lead over champs Manchester City cut from five points to three.
But the main drama comes below that.
Spurs would jump from fifth to third, dumping United out of the Champions League places.
In contrast, the main sufferers would be Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s under-achievers can thank VAR for being only a poor ninth rather than 11th and just six points off the drop zone.
In fact, Liverpool top the list for points gained from video-replay decisions – with SIX picked up.
Next come Aston Villa on four, followed by United, Brentford and Crystal Palace on three.
Lowly Leeds are the main VAR losers on five points.
Pep Guardiola’s City and West Ham would each have three points scrubbed off, with two removed from Brighton and Everton.
Of course, that all relies on no other goals being scored after the video verdicts.
And that’s a tad unlikely.
But it still suggests VAR has had a major impact.
Liverpool’s video benefits, in their otherwise gloomy campaign, included three huge incidents.
VAR allowed one of Roberto Firmino’s two goals after it was initially ruled out for offside against Mo Salah in a 3-3 draw with Brighton in October, which was most notable for Leandro Trossard’s hat-trick.
In the same month City hero Phil Foden had a goal erased for an Erling Haaland foul on Fabinho as the Reds eked a 1-0 win at Anfield in October.
And just a fortnight ago Kai Havertz’s early strike was scrubbed out for offside in a 0-0 Anfield stalemate with Chelsea that helped neither side.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz celebrates only to have his goal against Liverpool ruled out by VAR during the Anfield stalemate in JanuaryCredit: AFP
