Many football fans think VAR is has been benefiting certain teams since its introduction in the Premier League at the start of the season.
It is not unusual to see fans moaning about LiVARpool – despite the Reds only having two VAR interventions for them and one against this season.
Actually, West Ham and Leicester have seen the most VAR decisions. The Foxes have received five interventions for and three against, while the Hammers have received five against and three for.
Newcastle have been involved with the fewest VAR decisions in the league, with only one intervention – ruling for the Magpies – this season.
So, which clubs have really been benefiting from VAR this season? A study from ESPN on every VAR decision earlier this week gave the full verdict.
1= Brighton & Hove Albion (+3 decisions in their favour)
Brighton are one of three teams to have benefited most from VAR this season, with four overturns for and only one against.
The decision against came in August, when Leandro Trossard’s goal was ruled out for offside, though the Belgian went on to score in the 1-1 draw.
Since then, all four VAR interventions have gone in the Seagulls’ favour, with Conor Hourinhane’s and David Luiz’s goals against Brighton ruled out, one penalty awarded and one penalty against made to be taken again due to encroachment in the box.
1= Manchester United (+3)
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United have also had four overturns for and one against, with the against decision coming first when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal was originally ruled out for offside but awarded on review.
In the North-West Derby, Sadio Mane’s goal was ruled out for Liverpool for handball. Since then, United have been awarded three penalties by VAR – two against Norwich, which were both missed, and one against Manchester City , which was scored.
1= Tottenham Hotspur (+3)
Spurs held on for a 2-2 draw against Manchester City after Gabriel Jesus’ injury time winner was ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
VAR intervened to chalk one goal off for each of Spurs and Leicester – both for offside – in Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at the King Power.
Goals for Sheffield United;s David McGoldrick and West Ham’s Declan Rice have gone for Spurs since then.
4= Crystal Palace (+2)
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Palace were awarded Jordan Ayew’s late winner at the London Stadium after it was initially ruled out for offside.
A penalty was then awarded at the Emirates despite Wilfried Zaha initially being booked for diving, before Sokratis’ goal was chalked off for a foul by Calum Chambers in a 2-2 draw.
The only time VAR has gone against Palace this season was to deny James Tomkins a goal against Liverpool in November for a foul in the biuld-up.
4= Leicester City (+2)
Leicester have received a league-high five decisions for by VAR. These include three goals against being ruled out, Kelechi Iheanacho’s late winer against Everton being given on review and a red card being given to Ryan Bertrand in the 9-0 hammering of Southampton .
The Foxes have also seen a goal disallowed and a penalty cancelled on review. They were also made to retake a penalty against Brighton after James Maddison scored a rebound having encroached – though Vardy finished from 12 yards at the second time of asking.
4= Southampton (+2)
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Southampton’s matches have seen four VAR interventions, with three actions for and one against. All three positive decisions have seen opposition goals ruled out – including Oliver McBurnie’s for Sheffield United as Saints wet on to win 1-0 at Bramall Lane.
However, VAR intervened to send Ryan Bertrand off for an awful studs-up tackle on Ayoze Perez as Leicester went on to cause a 9-0 mauling at St Mary’s.
7= Burnley (+1)
Five interventions in Burnley matches sees them come out just ahead on for decisions. The Clarets have seen two goals ruled out due to offside and a foul – both by Chris Wood.
However, they have benefited from a goal being ruled out for offside in a 2-2 draw at Villa Park, a penalty being overturned due to a dive by Callum Hudson-Odoi and a penalty being awarded on review against Watford .
7= Liverpool (+1)
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Mason Mount was found to be offside in the build-up to Cesar Azpilicueta’s equaliser in the Reds’ 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge. James Tomkins’ goal was also ruled out against table-topping Liverpool after Jordan Ayew’s foul.
VAR also intervened in the only game Liverpool have dropped points in so far this season – ruling out Sadio Mane’s equaliser for handball against Manchester United .
7= Newcastle United (+1)
Newcastle have only had one VAR intervention in their matches this season – a league low – and it was a positive one. Jonjo Shelvey’s goal in the Magpies’ 2-0 win against Sheffield United was cleared after originally being ruled out for offside.
10= Bournemouth (0)
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Only two VAR interventions in Bournemouth games so far. Josh King’s goal was ruled out for offside against Southampton, though his side went on to win 3-1 anyway.
The Norwegian was then awarded a goal the week after – with an overturned offside decision – as the Cherries drew 2-2 with West Ham .
10= Watford (0)
One for and one against for Watford too. Gerard Deulofeu was awarded a penalty, which he then scored, after a foul by Jorginho in the Hornet’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea .
A penalty was awarded against Watford by VAR later in November, as Ashley Barnes was fouled by Jose Holebas and went on to score from the spot.
12= Arsenal (-1)
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Arsenal are one of two teams who have been slightly ruled against by VAR interventions. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal against Manchester United was ruled onside by VAR after initially being disallowed, while the Gabonese forward was also allowed to retake a missed penalty in the 2-2 draw with Norwich due to an encroaching defender – scoring the second time.
However, VAR ruled against the Gunners twice in their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in October – awarding a penalty and ruling out a goal. More recently, David Luiz saw his goal ruled out for offside in Arsenal’s 2-1 home defeat to Brighton.
12= Everton (-1)
Everton had VAR award a penalty against them as Brighton turned the match on its head to win 3-2 in October.
Against Leicester, VAR ruled for them to cancel a penalty after Ben Chilwell was found to have dived – but it then awarded Kelechi Iheanacho’s 94th minute winner which had initially been ruled out for offside.
14= Aston Villa (-2)
Villa are one of two teams to have VAR only intervene against them so far this season.
Conor Hourihane was found to be offside in the build-up to deny John McGinn a goal against Burnley, while the Irishman’s own goal was ruled out after Wesley was found to have fouled Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
14= Manchester City (-2)
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The reigning champions saw two interventions in their first game of the season – the 5-0 thrashing of West Ham. Gabriel Jesus was denied his second of the match for offside, while Sergio Aguero was allowed to retake a missed penalty after Declan Rice was found to have encroached in the area.
Gabriel Jesus was also denied a late winner against Spurs after Aymeric Laporte was found to have handballed in the build-up, while Bernardo Silva was penalised for a foul in the box on Marcus Rashford – with the England forward burying the penalty.
14= Sheffield United (-2)
The Blades saw the first three VAR decisions they encountered go against them, with two United goals ruled out for offside and one goal against them given despite an initial flag against Jonjo Shelvey’s effort.
However, a red card against Chris Basham was rescinded as United battled to a 2-1 win at Norwich in early December.
14= West Ham United (-2)
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The Hammers have seen a league-high five VAR interventions go against them this campaign. As mentioned, there was one intervention for and one against versus Manchester City, while West Ham have also seen Brighton and Burnley goals disallowed for offside.
But they have also seen two opposition goals originally deemed offside then given by VAR and Declan Rice and Michail Antonio have been denied on review in recent fixtures against Spurs and Chelsea respectively.
14= Wolverhampton Wanderers (-2)
Wolves , like Villa, have only seen VAR rule against them this season. Leander Dendoncker’s goal was ruled out due to a Willy Boly handball in the 0-0 draw in August.
Then in October, Raul Jimenez was found to be offside after he thought he’d opened the scoring against Southampton.
19= Chelsea (-3)
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We’re into the bottom two now, where Chelsea have a -3 net overturns. Kurt Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta were denied goals against Norwich and Liverpool respectively, while Callum Hudson-Odoi was found to have dived after a penalty was awarded in the 4-2 win at Burnley.
Watford were awarded a penalty on review in early November, but VAR ruled in favour of Chelsea later in the month when Michail Antonio’s goal was ruled out for offside as Chelsea lost 1-0 to West Ham.
19= Norwich City (-3)
As mentioned above, VAR ruled in favour of Norwich when it disallowed Kurt Zouma’s goal for a foul on Tim Krul by Olivier Giroud – but since then VAR has been a thorn in the Canaries’ side.
Manchester United were awarded two penalties – both of which were saved – during Norwich’s 3-1 loss. In December, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was allowed to retake his missed penalty after encroachment in the box and Norwich’s hopes of a late equaliser against Sheffield United were dashed as Chris Basham’s red card was rescinded.
