VAR continues to be a divisive topic in the Premier League despite being in use for six years – with clubs still experiencing shortfalls in the top-flight.
The Premier League introduced VAR in 2019, and although the teething problems at first were expected, the technology is still controversial now with certain decisions being the hot topic of conversation in the coming days.
Everton have suffered with certain VAR decisions this season, and that has affected their place in the table under David Moyes, even though they sit 11th after a solid start to the campaign.
And now, statistic company Squawka have released a table that shows where each club would be in the table if VAR had been correct in every instance.
VAR check for handball in Leeds United vs Everton.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Everton would be in the Premier League top half if VAR had been correct this season
The table, produced by Squawka, has calculated what the Premier League table would look like if all VAR decisions had been correct, with no errors.
While the likes of Arsenal would still be top of the table, and Wolves rooted to the bottom, there are a few changes throughout the table.
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Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Everton would be a key beneficiary of the new table. Although the Toffees wouldn’t have picked up any more points, Bournemouth would fall three places in their VAR outcomes.
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That would see the Toffees leapfrog the south coast outfit into tenth, potentially prompting a first top half finish since 2021.
However, the downside is that Everton would be four points off a Champions League spot due to Crystal Palace picking up an extra two points, so there are swings and roundabouts.
Everton have had their fair share of VAR incidents since its inception
Everton have suffered with VAR decisions so far this season alone, even after just 12 games of the season.
A perhaps slightly harsh handball awarded against James Tarkowski on the opening day of the season saw them fall 1-0 to Leeds United, whilst Jake O’Brien’s header vs Tottenham Hotspur – a goal which would have drawn the game level – was ruled out for offside against Iliman Ndiaye.
Mark Clattenburg justifies why Gueye was sent off vs Man United
“Technically, the referee is right to send off Idrissa Gueye for a slap on the face of his own teammate Michael Keane. It brings back many years ago the altercation between Bowyer and Dyer both playing for Newcastle.
“The act of striking another player, even if it is a teammate, is a sending-off offence. Some people will argue that the slap was soft, but it’s the act that is punishable. So it’s irrelevant how much force was used.”
Further situations, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s booking against Liverpool and a further caution against West Ham, have seen fans rage at PGMOL.
Although the table doesn’t believe Everton would have picked up any other points, there is an argument to say that the Toffees could be in the top four had luck fallen on their side.
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