Liverpool hit with reality as Premier League table without VAR emerges
It has been revealed where Liverpool would place in the Premier League without intervention from Video Referee Technology.
VAR continues to be a topic of conversation despite being introduced by the Premier League back in 2019. Referees have been scrutinised this season following incorrect refereeing decision often stealing the show.
There was hope that the video technology would give referees extra support to avoid controversial decisions from being made. But a number of decisions have been described as 'significant human error' by Chief Refereeing Officer for PGMOL Howard Webb.
The Reds star Luis Diaz was infamously deemed offside during the clash with Tottenham in one of the opening games of the season. The decision was not corrected by Simon Hooper or Darren England - the VAR lead for the game.
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Diaz broke in behind the defence of the North London club, firing into the bottom corner past Guglielmo Vicario. After the 2-1 defeat, PGMOL admitted that the goal should have stood.
It comes as Wolves have called a Premier League vote on whether to scrap use of the technology, although Liverpool look set to vote in favour of keeping it.
The ECHO has taken a look at how the Premier League table would look without VAR.
1st – Manchester City
88 points without VAR.
2nd – Arsenal
85 points without VAR.
3rd – Liverpool
76 points without VAR.
4th – Aston Villa
75 points without VAR.
5th – Tottenham Hotspur
63 points without VAR.
6th – Newcastle United
57 points without VAR.
7th – Chelsea
57 points without VAR.
8th – Manchester United
52 points without VAR.
9th – West Ham
49 points without VAR.
10th – Fulham
49 points without VAR.
11th – Brighton
47 points without VAR.
12th – Bournemouth
47 points without VAR.
13th – Crystal Palace
44 points without VAR.
14th – Everton
43 points without VAR.
15th – Brentford
41 points without VAR.
16th – Wolves
40 points without VAR.
17th – Nottingham Forest
34 points without VAR.
18th – Burnley
26 points without VAR.
19th – Luton Town
25 points without VAR.
20th – Sheffield United
13 points without VAR.
With that in mind, Aston Villa and Fulham would benefit more than any other team in the Premier League without VAR. Meanwhile, Wolves, Liverpool, West Ham and Sheffield United have suffered most from some poor officiating.
As for Liverpool, who are currently on 79 points, they would have three fewer points than they do now without VAR. While Manchester City's current points tally of 88 would remain the same.
In the race for Europa League qualification, not much separates Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham with or without VAR. Manchester United however, would have lost all hope of European football a while ago, sitting on 52 points in eighth.
