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VAR controversies are perhaps fewer this season but remain an ever-present part of the modern day Premier League.
If the football world has a modern version of coal in your stocking, it could well be the intervention of VAR for Premier League title chasers Arsenal and Chelsea.
This Christmas, the Gunners and the Blues will be all too aware of the sizeable gap opened up between themselves and Liverpool in the top flight. The Reds sit top of the tree on Christmas Day, four points ahead of Chelsea in second place and six points ahead of third-placed Arsenal - with a game in hand too.
LondonWorld has been keeping track of what the Premier League table would look like if VAR had not existed this season and it makes for positive reading for Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca. The latest shake-up includes a point less for West Ham after Lucas Paqueta scored a peanlty awarded by VAR against AFC Bournemouth.
Premier League table without VAR
20th - Southampton, 7 points (+1)
VAR had a role to play as the Saints threw away a 2-0 lead against Leicester City. One of the Foxes' three goals came after VAR deemed that Ryan Fraser had pulled Jamie Vardy back, the veteran striker scoring from the spot kick
19th - Ipswich Town, 10 points (-2)
Would have shared a point with Spurs rather than claiming all three if Dominic Solanke’s goal had stood.
18th - Leicester City, 11 points (-3)
Struggling Leicester City would be even worse off without VAR this season.
17th - Wolves, 13 points (+1)
Wolves would have claimed a point at Manchester City if VAR had not intervened and ruled that John Stones' 95th-minute winner should stand.
16th - Everton, 16 points
15th - West Ham, 17 points (-3)
Paqueta was on target against AFC Bournemouth.Paqueta was on target against AFC Bournemouth.
Paqueta was on target against AFC Bournemouth. | Getty Images
Benefited from that late penalty against Manchester United, which Jarrod Bowen converted, to pick up an extra two points thanks to VAR. Also had a penalty awarded in the 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth, which Lucas Paqueta scored from.
14th - Crystal Palace, 18 points (+2)
The Eagles have not been friends of VAR this season with the system costing them two points.
13th - Manchester United, 23 points (+1)
The Red Devils would have likely picked up at least an extra point with a draw against Brighton should a Joshua Zirkzee goal have stood. Instead, it was ruled out for offside.
12th - Brentford, 23 points
11th - Newcastle United, 24 points (-2)
The Magpies earned a draw at Bournemouth but only after VAR intervened to rule out a late winner for the home side. Everton also had a goal ruled out by VAR.
10th - Fulham, 24 points (-1)
Wouldn't have picked up a point against Arsenal last weekend if Bukayo Saka's goal had stood.
9th - Tottenham Hotspur, 24 points (+1)
Would have picked up a point against Ipswich Town if Dominic Solanke's goal had stood.
8th- Brighton, 25 points
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7th - Manchester City, 25 points (-2)
The Champions would be two points worse off without VAR as the system helped award the John Stones winner against Wolves.
6th - Aston Villa, 28 points
The Villains were awarded a penalty against Crystal Palace thanks to VAR, but Youri Tielemans saw his spot kick saved anyway.
5th - Nottingham Forest, 31 points
4th - AFC Bournemouth, 32 points (+4)
It's been an impressive campaign from the Cherries, who would have even more points if VAR wasn't in place. Bournemouth would also have picked up three points against West Ham if the London outfit hadn't been given a penalty by VAR.
3rd - Chelsea, 34 points (-1)
It’s been a strong start to the season for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca.It’s been a strong start to the season for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca.
It’s been a strong start to the season for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca. | Getty Images
The Blues picked up an extra point thanks to VAR spotting that Kai Havertz was offside for Arsenal.
2nd - Liverpool, 37 points (-2)
The league leaders would be two points worse off without VAR this season.
1st - Arsenal, 37 points (+4)
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