Premier League Table in 2024/25 Without VAR

With the 2024/25 Premier League season now at an end, the role of VAR continues to be a lightning rod for controversy, influencing outcomes and sparking debates among fans and pundits alike. Even at the very end of the campaign questions were being raised about its use, notably during Aston Villa’s final day defeat to Manchester United.

The Sun have produced an alternative Premier League table had VAR not been involved at all. The results form an alternative table showing which teams’ fans will be cursing VAR (and which fanbases will be secretly pleased the 20 top flight clubs didn’t vote to get rid of the much-maligned technology).

Although the PGMOL said that north of a substantial 100 errors were corrected by VAR during the 2023/24 term, there were plenty of talking points involving the technology in this campaign too. Let’s take a closer look at the table if the technology had never been implemented by Premier League chiefs in the first place.

Liverpool Just Two Points Clear of Arsenal

Nottingham Forest also in Champions League qualification spots

While Arsenal were predicted by a supercomputer to once again finish second in the Premier League this season, The Sun’s research has shown that the Gunners are not right to be sitting so far behind champions Liverpool. Mikel Arteta’s side have felt hard done by with three controversial red card decisions going against them, with VAR stepping in to upgrade William Saliba’s initial yellow against Bournemouth to a straight red just one example. Without the technology, they would be just two points behind as opposed to the 10-point deficit they finished on.

Liverpool, meanwhile, would remain the English champions for a 20th time, and would have seen no impact on their points tally either. Arne Slot’s men only tasted defeat twice en route to being crowned champions, though they would lose twice more after their status was confirmed.

Manchester City‘s run of form between October and December saw them tumble all the way down to fifth in the league table, but they recovered to finish in third. If Pep Guardiola needs any solace, it should come from the fact that things could’ve been worse, as the Citizens would drop to fourth if VAR hadn’t been in their favour so often this season. One example of this came when they stole all three points at Molineux with a late John Stones header – which was initially ruled out for an offside against Bernardo Silva – eventually being given by VAR as it was deemed the Portuguese didn’t interfere with Jose Sa. This would’ve led to Chelsea leapfrogging them.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: In the 2023/24 season, the PGMOL admitted to 31 VAR-related errors.

One team that would certainly be wishing VAR didn’t exist is Nottingham Forest. While it may have been Villa rueing the decisions on the final day which cost them a place in the Champions League, across the season, it is the Garibaldi who were even more hard done by and had a fifth-place finish robbed of them, which would’ve been enough to enter Europe’s elite competition.

Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa Among the Biggest Beneficiaries of VAR

The Carabao Cup holders would be four points worse off without VAR

In terms of who VAR has helped the most, the new table shows that there is one clear winner: Newcastle United and West Ham, who sit four points better off than The Sun suggest they would be had it not been for the decisions that have gone their way. The same can be said for Brighton and Fulham, while Brentford and Aston Villa – ironically in the case of the latter – have also seen plenty of good fortune.

Not that the recent Carabao Cup winners will care after claiming their first piece of silverware in 70 years and qualifying for the Champions League, but Newcastle would be six points adrift of that happening if it weren’t for VAR. The Magpies earned a draw at Bournemouth but only after VAR intervened to rule out a late winner for the home side. Everton also had a goal ruled out by VAR against Eddie Howe’s men. Newcastle United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 but needed VAR to award them a penalty to do so, which Alexander Isak scored.

West Ham, too, have benefitted from VAR’s introduction in the 2020/21 season this time out. In fact, the east London-based outfit would have four points fewer on their seasonal tally. They gained a late penalty against Manchester United, which Jarrod Bowen converted, to pick up an extra two points thanks to VAR. Also had a penalty awarded in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, which Lucas Paqueta scored from. VAR also intervened against Everton last weekend to determine that a penalty given for a Max Kilman foul on Beto should controversially not stand.

As for Villa, their luck may have ended up costing them, but had it not been for VAR, they would’ve been at real risk of missing out on European football altogether.

Other Big Winners and Losers

Manchester United’s revival ambitions hampered by VAR

Among the other teams who can feel hard done by are Ruben Amorim-led Manchester United. The Red Devils have seen a litany of VAR-led decisions go against them which has not helped their recent spiral. Without said decisions, they would be three points better off and, though their position in the table would only change by a singular place. A controversial penalty, converted by Jarrod Bowen, saw West Ham United win the game 2-1 in Erik ten Hag’s final game in charge, sums up how cruel things have been. That doesn’t change the fact they have had a dismal campaign.

Everton have also been incredibly hard done by, missing out on a potential five points to their tally which would’ve seen them climb to 11th, level on points with Brentford who ended up securing a top-half finish. Given where the Toffees were when Sean Dyche was sacked, David Moyes has done a remarkable job of turning the tide with his back up against it in the toughest league in world football.

Perhaps no one is more hard done by than Bournemouth though, who will be questioning how things could’ve gone so wrong when it came to decisions against them. Andoni Iraola’s side had an incredible season, but fell off at the latter stages to miss out on European football. Yet, the data shows they should actually be eight points better off and currently sat in sixth-place.

All statistics courtesy of The Sun & Premier League (correct as of 27/05/2025)