LIVERPOOL would be on the verge of relegation if VAR did not exist.
Tottenham would also leapfrog Manchester United into fourth place.
Jurgen Klopp would be even angrier if his mid-table Liverpool team had not benefited from VAR decisions this season.
That's the conclusion of an old-school Premier League table, one devoid of key decisions based on video replays.
ESPN compiled a different look at the Premier League, with Arsenal's lead over champions Manchester City reduced from five points to three.
However, the main drama occurs beneath that.
Spurs would move up to third place, knocking United out of the Champions League places.
Liverpool, on the other hand, would be the primary victims.
Jurgen Klopp's underachievers can thank VAR for finishing ninth rather than 11th and only six points off the bottom.
In fact, Liverpool leads the league in points gained from video-replay decisions, with SIX.
Aston Villa is next with four points, followed by Manchester United, Brentford, and Crystal Palace with three.Leeds are the main VAR losers, with five points.
Pep Guardiola's City and West Ham would each lose three points, while Brighton and Everton would lose two.
Of course, none of this assumes that no other goals are scored following the video verdicts.
And that seems unlikely.
However, it still suggests that VAR has had a significant impact.
In an otherwise depressing campaign, Liverpool's video benefits included three major incidents.
In a 3-3 draw with Brighton in October, VAR allowed one of Roberto Firmino's two goals after it was initially ruled out for offside against Mo Salah, which was notable for Leandro Trossard's hat-trick.In October, City hero Phil Foden had a goal disallowed for an Erling Haaland foul on Fabinho as the Reds eked out a 1-0 win at Anfield.
Just a fortnight ago, Kai Havertz's early goal was ruled out for offside in a 0-0 Anfield draw with Chelsea that benefited neither team.
During the Anfield stalemate in January, Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates only to have his goal against Liverpool ruled out by VAR.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0