The number of VAR interventions only tells part of the story. What really matters is when they happen, and the state of the game.
Assessing impact is subjective, but BBC Sport has identified 29 games where VAR almost certainly influenced the final result.
For instance, a VAR advising a red card in the final seconds is not likely to affect a scoreline.
In contrast, Manchester United‘s stoppage time 3-2 win against Burnley can be put down to a VAR penalty.
These are the games that were affected by VAR and had the most impact on the season.
The title goes down to the final day
Arsenal won the title by seven points, but they gained four through VAR – in the Gunners’ win at West Ham and their victory at Everton. Both could have been draws but for VAR.
Take those four off, and heading into the final day of the season Arsenal and Manchester City would have been level on 78 points – with Pep Guardiola’s team top on goal difference.
The championship may have been decided on Sunday, rather than via City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth in midweek.
Villa might still have won at Etihad Stadium and thus Arsenal clinched the title, but the game would have taken on different significance. It would not have been largely a goodbye to departing legends like Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Guardiola himself.
Bournemouth in the Champions League
Bournemouth, Burnley and Tottenham were the clubs most affected by VAR, each four points worse off as a result of decisions.
Andoni Iraola’s men had a goal ruled out for offside in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea. They also had an Evanilson effort disallowed against Leeds – with the Cherries leading 2-1 at the time, and it finished 2-2.
It might have made a clear difference to Bournemouth‘s season, as with those four points added on they would end the season with 61 points – one more than Liverpool and in the final Champions League position.
It is impossible to know, of course, how Liverpool would have performed against Villa and Brentford in their final two matches if they were chasing the Cherries rather than leading them.
Other European positions change too
Brighton, who were three points worse off, would move up into a Europa League position.
Even though the numbers show that Chelsea enjoyed many positive VAR decisions, they lost two points because of VAR interventions against them at key times.
Add those back on and Xabi Alonso’s new team would have got into the Conference League position.
Sunderland would drop out of the European places having gained two points through VAR. Without those, they would drop into 10th.
Outside of key positional changes, Brentford‘s five points gained was the biggest in the table. Three points came from two VAR interventions which gave the Bees a 4-3 win over Burnley, plus Villa’s disallowed goal in a match Brentford won 1-0.
Keith Andrews’ side would drop from ninth to 13th without those points.
After Brentford, Manchester United and Arsenal also gained four points as one of the big winners.
Tottenham suffered three result-changing VAR calls against Liverpool, Sunderland and Leeds – without these their end of season would have been far less traumatic.
The alternative table has Spurs finishing in 15th with Forest and Palace just above the drop zone.
