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Ranking the Premier League clubs by who was most affected by VAR

The 2022-23 Premier League season has now come to an end and we couldn’t help but check out which sides have been most affected by VAR this season.

VAR has been present in the Premier League since 2019-20, but it’s fair to say that not everyone has been won over just yet. Several high-profile decisions have been huge talking points from this season.

We have taken a deeper look to find out who the clubs most affected by VAR this season have been. Thanks to the work of SunSport, we’ve ranked every Premier League club from who has gained and lost the most points based on VAR decisions.

Note: Based on this data, Newcastle, Tottenham, Wolves and West Ham are the only sides to have not gained or lost any points overall based on VAR calls this year.

Aston Villa +11

Unai Emery’s men have made it to the Europa Conference League and they will be thankful that VAR went in their favour more often than not in the 2022-23 campaign.

Without the technology, Villa would have been 11 points worse off and would have sunk to ninth in the table. Cody Gakpo’s disallowed goal against Aston Villa was one decision which had everyone talking recently.

Liverpool +6

Jurgen Klopp’s side fell below expectations this season and VAR actually helped them out on several occasions. However, the six extra points they gained from VAR calls weren’t enough to get them a place in the top four.

Arsenal +2

Despite VAR working in Arsenal’s favour overall, they have had some high-profile decisions go against them. Perhaps the biggest mistake of the season was to allow Ivan Toney’s equaliser against them, despite Christian Norgaard being in an offside position in the build-up.

It later transpired that the officials had made a mistake and had the lines been drawn, the goal wouldn’t have stood.

Fulham +2

Marco Silva’s side have been a fine addition to the Premier League this season and have caught plenty of people off guard. The off-field technology has worked in their favour more often as they are two points better off with it.

Manchester United +1

One of VAR’s biggest controversies this year was in the Manchester derby. United came out on top at Old Trafford after a Bruno Fernades goal was allowed to stand, despite Marcus Rashford appearing to interfere with play from an offside position.

“I would be absolutely devastated if I was a defender in a team or it was my team that conceded a goal like that,” Gary Neville told Sky Sports.

“The offside rule has evolved so much over the last 20 years, when I started playing anyone who stood offside was offside, irrespective of whether you are interfering or not.

“When you look at it again, you think about it, there’s something not right about that goal. Manchester United benefitted, maybe the Premier League benefits, I don’t know.”

Crystal Palace +1

Roy Hodgson managed to guide Palace to Premier League safety with games to spare. Overall, they benefited marginally from VAR calls this season, gaining one extra point in total.

Bournemouth +1

The Cherries also marginally gained from VAR decisions this time around. Few would have predicted Bournemouth to be as comfortable as they were in the end, but Gary O’Neil has done a fine job since taking over.

Amazingly so, Bournemouth are the only Premier League side to have not been awarded a penalty throughout the entire campaign.

Chelsea -1

Chelsea fans will be looking to wipe this campaign from their memories as soon as possible. Even with VAR slightly going against them, it’s been a hugely underwhelming year.

Brentford -2

Had VAR not been in the Premier League this season, Brentford would have leapfrogged Aston Villa into seventh place. Despite missing out on Europe, it’s still been an excellent season for Thomas Frank and his side.

Brighton -2

We’ve still not forgiven VAR for overruling this absolute beauty from Alexis Mac Allister.

Everton -2

Sean Dyche will be thankful that the VAR calls which have gone against Everton this year ultimately haven’t impacted their survival bid. The Toffees managed to survive on the final day, but without VAR they would have been two points better off.

Southampton -3

“You can’t celebrate the goal anymore or show any emotion because you know it’s going to VAR one way or another,” former Saints manager Nathan Jones told reporters in January.

“You can’t have emotions and you can’t get high, you have to wait. When it does get ruled off, you start to get a bit lower.”

Overall, Southampton have been negatively impacted by VAR this season, although they still would have been relegated even with the extra three points that VAR overturned.

Nottingham Forest -3

Steve Cooper has been critical of VAR at points of this season as his side would have been three points better off without the technology. Luckily enough, Forest did enough to get over the line anyway and will now be planning for next year in the Premier League.

Leicester -3

VAR has ruled out some exceptional goals over the years and Youri Tielemans’ strike against Leeds is right up there as one of the very best.

Youri Tielemans during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion at King Power Stadium, Leicester, January 2023.

READ: 9 of the sexiest disallowed goals we’d have let stand: Tielemans, CR7…

Leeds United -5

Plenty of Leeds fans will probably be glad to see the back of VAR as they head to the Championship. The technology saw Leeds lose a total of five points based on the decisions that went for and against them.

Manchester City -5

Believe it or not, but Pep Guardiola’s side were actually the joint-most affected side by VAR calls this year. Of course, this didn’t make much of a difference in the end as City still claimed the title with games to spare, but it is interesting nonetheless.

Had it not been for the technology, City would have finished the season with 94 points instead of the 89 they actually accumulated.


READ NEXT: The PL table if scores were done on aggregate: Man Utd 4th, Chelsea 14th…

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