Premier League Table without VAR 2025/26

The Premier League introduced the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the 2018-2019 season, and its use and impact have faced significant scrutiny ever since.

Here, we examine how the 2025-2026 Premier League table would look if VAR had never been implemented, with all on-field decisions remaining final.

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What’s happened so far?

Liverpool vs Man United

Manchester United’s historic win at Anfield on Sunday could’ve gone very differently had Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal been ruled out due to a foul in the build-up. Alexis Mac Allister went down with an apparent head injury after an aerial challenge between himself, Mbeumo, and Virgil van Dijk. Michael Oliver allowed play to continue, leading to the United forward placing the ball into the back of the net. The standard procedure in the Premier League is top stop play immediately if a player is believed to have a head injury, which is causing Liverpool fans to question the decision, and indeed VAR for not intervening to disallow the goal. Having occurred so early into the game, it’s impossible to predict the outcome of the match had the goal been chalked off, but we’ll give the reigning champions the benefit of the doubt, and hand each side a point.

Chelsea vs Fulham

Josh King broke the deadlock for Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in Gameweek Three, but his goal was ruled out after VAR decided Rodrigo Muniz fouled Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up. In full speed, there really does not appear to be much in the challenge, but upon closer inspection, VAR believed Muniz’ stamp on Chalobah was enough to warrant an overturn.

Fulham fans were understandably unhappy, arguing the slow-motion replays removed the context from the situation, adding that VAR put too much emphasis on Muniz’s foot landing on the boot of Chalobah, rather than taking into account the full picture.

Given our rule of factoring in what the scoreline was at the time of the intervention and what it would’ve been had VAR not intervened, Fulham’s one-goal advantage might’ve been enough to see them take home all three points.

Chelsea vs Brentford

Yet another VAR controversy involving the Blues. Chelsea were heading towards a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge against Brentford, thanks to Moises Caicedo’s strike.

However, a long throw from the Bees in the dying minutes entered Chelsea’s box, and Kristoffer Ajer flicked the ball on to the back post, where Fabio Carvalho converted from close range.

The controversy arose because Ajer connected with the ball, meaning Dango Ouattara, who was nearby during the chaos, was in an offside position; Ouattara tried to connect with the ball from an offside position. However, VAR ruled that Ouattara’s movement did not impact Reece James enough to overrule the goal, allowing Brentford to steal two points off Chelsea, and one for themselves.

Fulham vs Brentford

Fulham were comfortably in front against Brentford, but their lead could’ve been extended to 4-1 if Rodrigo Muniz’s goal was allowed. Around the hour mark, Muniz leaped up to control a high ball in the middle third of the pitch, but in doing so, made contact via his elbow with Nathan Collins. The ball was played through and Muniz powered his shot home, thinking he had added to Brentford’s woes. However, VAR intervened and overruled the original on-field decision. Some Cottagers argued Muniz wasn’t facing Collins and had nowhere else to put his elbow while airborne. While Fulham went on to win the game comfortably, they’d have another goal to add to their goal difference should the goal have stood.

Newcastle vs Arsenal

Newcastle hosted Arsenal for what ending up being a blockbuster fixture in Gameweek 6. For not one second did the game cease to entertain, and the 15th minute brought the first major drama of the game. Viktor Gyokeres latched onto a loose ball, intended for Magpies goalkeeper, Nick Pope, and out of nowhere came a one-on-one. In real time, it looked like Gyokeres touched the ball past Pope, and the goalkeeper’s attempt to win the ball was misjudged, resulting in clear contact with the Arsenal striker. However, on closer inspection, VAR overruled the original penalty decision, declaring Pope did indeed touch the ball – which prevented a foul against Gyokeres. A last-gasp winner for Arsenal won them the game, but an early converted penalty could’ve seen a different turn of events.

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