With the 2024/25 Premier League season coming to an end, the role of VAR remains a lightning rod for controversy, impacting outcomes and provoking debate among fans and experts alike. Even towards the end of the season, concerns were made over its use, particularly during Aston Villa’s final-day defeat to Manchester United.
The Sun created an alternate Premier League standings if VAR had not been used at all. The results form an alternative table indicating which teams’ fans will be cursing VAR (and which fanbases will be secretly relieved that the 20 top division clubs did not vote to eliminate the much-maligned technology).
Although the PGMOL stated that VAR fixed more than 100 errors during the 2023/24 term, there were numerous questions about the technology throughout this campaign as well. Take a closer look at the table as if Premier League officials had never used the technology in the first place.
Liverpool Just Two Points Clear of Arsenal
Nottingham Forest also in Champions League qualification spots
While a supercomputer expected Arsenal to finish second in the Premier League this season, The Sun’s analysis shows that the Gunners should not be so far behind champions Liverpool. Mikel Arteta’s team has felt unfairly treated after three dubious red card rulings, with VAR intervening to enhance William Saliba’s initial yellow against Bournemouth to a straight red being just one example. Without the technology, they would be only two points behind, as opposed to the 10-point deficit they ended with.
Liverpool, meanwhile, would remain English champions for the twentieth time, with no affect on their point total. Arne Slot’s men only faced defeat twice on their way to becoming champions, but they would lose twice more after their status was confirmed.
Manchester City’s poor form from October to December dropped them to fifth place in the league table, but they rebounded to finish third. If Pep Guardiola needs any solace, it should come from the fact that things could have been worse, as the Citizens would have dropped to fourth place if VAR had not gone in their favour so frequently this season. One example was when they stole all three points at Molineux with a late John Stones header, which was initially ruled out for offside against Bernardo Silva but was later awarded by VAR after it was determined that the Portuguese did not interfere with Jose Sa. This would have resulted in Chelsea outpacing them.
Nottingham Forest is one team that would undoubtedly prefer not to have VAR. While Villa may be lamenting the decisions made on the final day that cost them a place in the Champions League, the Garibaldi were much more unlucky, having a fifth-place finish robbed of them, which would have been enough to qualify for Europe’s best championship.
Newcastle, West Ham, and Aston Villa Among the largest beneficiaries of VAR
The Carabao Cup winners would be four points worse off without VAR.
In terms of who has benefited the most from VAR, the updated table shows that Newcastle United and West Ham are four points ahead of where The Sun suggests they would be if the decisions had gone their way. The same can be said for Brighton and Fulham, while Brentford and Aston Villa – oddly, the latter – have also had plenty of good fortune.
Not that the recent Carabao Cup winners would notice after winning their first trophy in 70 years and qualifying for the Champions League, but Newcastle would be six points behind if not for VAR. The Magpies drew against Bournemouth, but only after VAR intervened to rule out the home side’s late victory. Everton also had a goal disallowed by VAR against Eddie Howe’s side. Newcastle United defeated Nottingham Forest 3-2 but needed VAR to hand them a penalty, which Alexander Isak converted.
West Ham have also benefited from the introduction of VAR in the 2020/21 season. In fact, the east London outfit’s seasonal score would be four points lower. They got a late penalty against Manchester United, which Jarrod Bowen converted, to earn an extra two points courtesy to VAR. In addition, a penalty was awarded in the 1-1 draw versus Bournemouth, which Lucas Paqueta converted. VAR also intervened against Everton last weekend, deciding that a penalty awarded for a Max Kilman foul on Beto should be overturned.
Villa’s luck may have cost them, but without VAR, they were in danger of missing out on European football entirely.
Other Big Winners and Losers
Manchester United’s recovery hopes are hampered by VAR.
Manchester United, led by Ruben Amorim, is another side that may feel unfairly treated. The Red Devils have had a slew of VAR-based rulings go against them, which hasn’t helped their recent slump. Without these decisions, they would be three points better off, even if their position in the table only changed by one place. A contentious penalty converted by Jarrod Bowen helped West Ham United win 2-1 in Erik ten Hag’s final game in charge, exemplifying how cruel things have been. That does not change the fact that they ran a poor campaign.
Everton has also been extremely unlucky, missing out on a potential five-point bonus that would have moved them up to 11th place, level on points with Brentford, who finished in the top half. Given where the Toffees were when Sean Dyche was fired, David Moyes has done an incredible job of changing the tide in the world’s most competitive league.
Perhaps no one is more hard done by than Bournemouth though, who will be questioning how things could’ve gone so wrong when it came to decisions against them. Andoni Iraola’s side had an incredible season, but fell off at the latter stages to miss out on European football. Yet, the data shows they should actually be eight points better off and currently sat in sixth-place.
Premier League Table Without VAR (2024/25)
Position
Club
Points
Points Difference
1.
Liverpool
84
0
2.
Arsenal
82
+8
3.
Chelsea
71
+2
4.
Manchester City
69
-2
5.
Nottingham Forest
68
+3
6.
Bournemouth
64
+8
7.
Aston Villa
64
-2
8.
Newcastle United
62
-4
9.
Brighton
57
-4
10.
Brentford
53
-3
11.
Everton
52
+5
12.
Crystal Palace
52
-1
13.
Fulham
50
-4
14.
Manchester United
45
+3
15.
Wolves
43
+1
16.
West Ham United
39
-4
17.
Tottenham Hotspur
38
0
18.
Leicester City
27
+2
19.
Ipswich Town
20
-2
20.
Southampton
12
0
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