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Everton nearly snuck three points at Goodison Park but VAR ruled out a penalty against West Ham.
Everton salvaged a point against West Ham last weekend with an injury time leveller for Jake O’Brien, but that would have been a winner for the Toffees should a first half penalty had stood.
Referee Darren Bond blew for a spot kick just before the break having decided that Hammers defender Max Kilman had fouled Everton striker Beto. However, VAR intervened to send Bond to the screen and overturn the decision.
A statement from the Premier League match centre read: “VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Kilman on Beto – and deemed that no foul was committed, therefore recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball.”
That was the right decision, with Mike Dean saying on Sky Sports: “It looks funny when you watch it. He’s kicked the floor and gone down. It’s not a penalty. You shouldn’t laugh but… It’s a terrible call, it’s awful.”
LondonWorld looks at how that latest VAR call affected a Premier League table should the system have never existed for the 2024/25 campaign.
Premier League table without VAR
20th - Southampton, 10 points (+1)
VAR had a role to play as the Saints threw away a 2-0 lead against Leicester City earlier in the season. 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 - Leicester City, 14 points (-3)
Struggling Leicester City would be even worse off without VAR this season.
18th - Ipswich Town, 17 points
Would have shared a point with Spurs rather than claiming all three if Dominic Solanke’s goal had stood. Did also see a João Félix goal disallowed for offside in their 2-0 win over Chelsea. Had a penalty given against them when facing Fulham, as they settled for a 2-2 draw.
17th - Wolves, 27 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 - West Ham, 30 points (-4)
Benefited from a 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. VAR intervened against Everton last weekend to determine that a penalty given for a Max Kilman foul on Beto should not stand.
15th - Tottenham Hotspur, 34 points
Would have picked up a point against Ipswich Town if Dominic Solanke's goal had stood. However, the point against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday would have been nothing should Semenyo’s goal have stood and VAR not intervened for offside.
14th - Everton, 36 points (+2)
The Toffees beat Brighton at the AMEX Stadium but their 1-0 win came thanks to an Iliman Ndiaye penalty, which was awarded thanks to VAR. Everton would have had an extra two points if the last gasp penalty against Manchester United was not overturned by VAR (we are presuming that would have been scored). The Toffees saw a penalty given against West Ham overturned - if they had scored that, the Merseyside side would have picked up all three points in a 2-1 win.
13th - Manchester United, 41 points (+4)
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. Then, against Liverpool, they could have claimed all three points if not for VAR intervening after a handball by Matthijs de Ligt that saw a penalty awarded to the hosts. Helped to a point against Everton thanks to VAR ruling out a late Toffees penalty.
12th - Crystal Palace, 41 points (+2)
The Eagles have not been friends of VAR this season with the system costing them two points.
11th - Aston Villa, 42 points (-3)
The Villains were awarded a penalty against Crystal Palace thanks to VAR, but Youri Tielemans saw his spot kick saved anyway. There was a Watkins goal from the penalty spot against Brighton as already highlighted above. That helped earn a point for the hosts. VAR intervened to allow Villa a goal against Chelsea at the weekend too with Marcus Rashford judged to be onside, helping Unai Emery's side to a 2-1 win.
10th - Fulham, 43 points (-2)
Wouldn't have picked up a point against Arsenal if Bukayo Saka's late goal at Craven Cottage had stood. Also had VAR award a penalty, scored by Raul Jimenez, in their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town.
9th - Brentford, 43 points (+2)
Yoane Wissa's goal disallowed for offside against Brighton would have been enough for all three points on December 27.
8th - Newcastle United, 43 points (-4)
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 against Eddie Howe’s men. Newcastle United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 but needed VAR to award them a penalty to do so, which Alexander Isak scored.
7th - Manchester City, 46 points (-2)
The Champions would be two points worse off without VAR as the system helped award the John Stones winner against Wolves.
6th - Brighton, 48 points (+1)
Yoane Wissa had a goal disallowed for offside for Brentford in a 0-0 draw while the Seagulls saw a VAR call go against them when Aston Villa were awarded a penalty for a foul by Joao Pedro on Morgan Rogers. Ollie Watkins scored it as the sides drew 2-2. Everton also claimed a 1-0 win against them thanks to a VAR awarded penalty.
5th - Chelsea, 49 points
The Blues picked up an extra point thanks to VAR spotting that Kai Havertz was offside for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. As mentioned, Felix was denied a goal at Ipswich in their 2-0 loss. The extra point picked up was cancelled out against Aston Villa last weekend with VAR allowing a goal for the opposition when reversing an offside goal.
Arsenal and Bournemouth lose six points to VAR
4th - AFC Bournemouth, 50 points (+6)
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. They were also denied a late winner against Newcastle after a handball was spotted. The draw against Spurs would have been a win too had Antoine Semenyo’s 51st minute goal not be ruled off for offside.
3rd - Nottingham Forest, 55 points (+1)
Would've earned a point in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United if VAR had not intervened to award the Magpies a penalty, which Alexander Isak scored.
2nd - Arsenal, 64 points (+6)
The Gunners would have extra points if Kai Havertz's opener against Chelsea had stood, as well as Bukayo Saka's winner at Craven Cottage. Havertz was penalised by VAR against Aston Villa, disallowing a goal which would have seen the Gunners pick up all three points. William Saliba was also sent off against Bournemouth after VAR intervention.
1st- Liverpool, 67 points (-3)
The league leaders would be three points worse off without VAR this season. Most recently, they had a penalty awarded after VAR intervention against Manchester United. They also won a penalty against Southampton but won that match 3-1 anyway.
In other news, West Ham striker Michail Antonio has provided an update on his injury and put a timeline on his return.
Related topics:VARTottenham HotspurWest HamArsenalPremier League
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