Man Utd would tumble down the table with Liverpool in a relegation battle if the Premier League didn’t have VAR

LIVERPOOL would be plunged close to a relegation fight if VAR didn’t exist.

And Tottenham would leapfrog Manchester United into the top four.

Jurgen Klopp would be raging even more if his mid-table Liverpool side hadn’t been helped out by VAR decisions in his favour this seasonAFP

GettyMan Utd boss Erik ten Hag would see in-form Marcus Rashford and Co fall out of the Champions League spots were it not for video replays[/caption]

That’s the verdict from an old-style Premier League table – one without key decisions made by video replay.

ESPN compiled the Prem’s alternative look at the midway stage.

Arsenal’s lead over champs Manchester City would be cut from five to three points.

But the main drama comes below that.

Spurs would jump from fifth to third, dumping United out of the Champions League places.

But the main sufferers would be Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp‘s under-achievers can thank VAR for being only a poor ninth rather than 11th and just six points off the drop zone.

Liverpool top the list for points gained from video-replay decisions – with SIX.

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Next come Aston Villa on four, followed by United, Brentford and Crystal Palace on three.

Lowly Leeds are the main losers on FIVE.

Pep Guardiola‘s City and West Ham could scrub out three points courtesy of VAR, with two coming off Brighton and Everton.

Of course, that all relies on no other goals being scored after the video verdicts. 

And that’s a tad unlikely.

But it still suggests VAR has had a major impact.

Liverpool’s video benefits included three huge decisions.

Roberto Firmino saw VAR allow one of his two goals after it was initially ruled out for offside against Mo Salah in aa  3-3 draw with Brighton in October, also notable for Leandro Trossard‘s hat-trick.

In ther same month City hero Phil Foden had a goal ruled out for an Erling Haaland foul on Fabinho when the Reds eked a 1-0 win at Anfield in October.

And a fortnight ago Kai Havertz’s early strike was scrubbed out for offside in a 0-0 Anfield stalemate with Chelsea that helped neither side.

AFPChelsea’s Kai Havertz celebrates only to have his goal against Liverpool ruled out by VAR in the 0-0 draw at Anfield[/caption]