Designed to help referees correct clear and obvious mistakes in goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity, VAR was expected to improve decision-making across the top flight.
However, as the 2025/26 season unfolds, the conversation continues around whether the system is helping or hindering the flow and fairness of the game.
With data compiled from Squawka and fan polls conducted on X (formerly Twitter), a new Premier League table has been created that removes the influence of confirmed VAR mistakes made so far this season.
The alternative table assumes penalties wrongly not awarded would have been scored and includes decisions that either wrongly disallowed or allowed goals, among other key incidents.
Despite a few errors benefitting them, the current bottom three clubs remain unchanged in the table without VAR mistakes.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, sitting at the foot of the table with just two points, saw one major call go their way—Yerson Mosquera avoiding a red card in their 1-0 loss to Newcastle—but it didn’t affect their overall standing. ..Continue Reading
West Ham United were also the beneficiaries of a VAR mistake when Tottenham had a goal ruled out for a push on Kyle Walker-Peters. However, this decision also didn’t change their league position, and they remain in 19th with four points.
15. Brentford – 6 points
16. Leeds United – 6 points
17. Nottingham Forest – 5 points
18. Burnley – 4 points
19. West Ham United – 4 points
20. Wolverhampton Wanderers – 2 points
Burnley and Nottingham Forest have both been involved in controversial VAR calls this season, but their positions in the relegation zone also remain unchanged.
Leeds United, on the other hand, have slightly benefited from VAR mistakes, earning two extra points that currently keep them in 15th. Without VAR interference, they would be sitting in 16th, just above Brentford, who would have moved up one place.
Mid-Table Shifts
Some clubs in the lower half of the table saw their positions change slightly due to VAR decisions.
Aston Villa, currently enduring a rough patch, have had two decisions go in their favour and none against them. Still, removing those helps only slightly, moving them from 13th to 14th.
Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion are among the clubs negatively affected. Manchester United would drop two spots, from 10th to 12th, had VAR errors not occurred.
A major incident involved Nathan Collins not being sent off for a last-man challenge on Bryan Mbeumo.
Fulham are the biggest losers from VAR decisions so far.
They sit 14th in the real table but would rise to 11th without incorrect calls. One of the major blunders involved a disallowed goal by Josh King against Chelsea, wrongly chalked off due to a supposed foul by Rodrigo Muniz.
11. Fulham – 10 points
12. Manchester United – 10 points
13. Brighton & Hove Albion – 9 points
14. Aston Villa – 9 points
Top Half Changes
Sunderland, in their first season back in the Premier League, have started strong. However, in the table without VAR mistakes, they drop one place—purely due to other teams gaining more from VAR reversals.
Newcastle United would be two points better off without VAR, climbing two spots. One major incident was a denied penalty to Nick Woltemade during a goalless draw against Bournemouth.
Chelsea have benefitted from VAR, currently sitting one place higher than they would be otherwise. The Blues are the only team to have had three decisions go in their favour.
Everton, despite their impressive start, are slightly worse off due to VAR errors. They would gain one point and rise one position without them. A key mistake involved a late penalty given against them in their loss to Leeds.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth and Manchester City both lose ground without VAR. Bournemouth would drop two places from fourth to sixth, while City, who have had VAR go in their favour more than against them, would also drop two places.
5. Manchester City – 13 points
6. Bournemouth – 13 points
7. Everton – 12 points
8. Chelsea – 12 points
9. Newcastle United – 11 points
10. Sunderland – 11 points
The Top Four Shuffle
In the revised standings, Crystal Palace would move up two spots into third place after two VAR mistakes went against them. Without those, they’d be two points better off.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are the club that has benefited the most from VAR in the Premier League this season. Without VAR errors, the Gunners would fall from third to eighth.
One early example was their season-opening win over Manchester United, where William Saliba was lucky not to concede a penalty.
Tottenham and Liverpool also benefit from a VAR-less league. Spurs, now managed by Thomas Frank, would rise from third to second, while Liverpool would take top spot, swapping places with Arsenal.
1. Liverpool – 15 points
2. Tottenham Hotspur – 14 points
3. Crystal Palace – 14 points
4. Arsenal – 14 points
While VAR was introduced to eliminate major officiating errors, its influence continues to generate debate.
The adjusted 2025/26 Premier League table shows just how much of an impact a few key calls can have—some teams have seen their fortunes improve significantly, while others may feel hard done by.
As the season progresses, the role of VAR will remain under scrutiny, especially for teams battling for survival or pushing for European qualification.
