Newcastle United have enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season despite not hitting their brilliant best after four games. Eddie Howe’s side have collected 10 points from the first 12 on offer, with only reigning champions Manchester City earning more after four games.
The Magpies dropped points in their 1-1 clash at Bournemouth but have beaten Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves this season. So far, VAR has impacted Howe’s side just once with the Cherries denied a late winner at the Vitality Stadium last month. However, PGMOL chief Howard Webb admitted on Match Officials Mic'd Up that the goal should not have been ruled out.
Dango Ouattara thought he’d won the game as he powered home but VAR decided the ball had been handled by the defender. However, Webb contested: "I agree. The referee's on-field call is 'goal' and the officials on the field didn't see any reason to disallow this goal. We know all goals are checked by the VAR to see if there's ay reason why the goal can't be awarded. One of those reasons is if the ball directly hits the attacker's arm and goes directly in the goal and scores immediately.
"In this situation, the ball strikes Ouattara somewhere [in the] shoulder, upper arm area. It's hard to be totally conclusive as to exactly where. I don't think that's conclusive enough to intervene.”
It hasn’t all gone the Magpies way in terms of decisions this campaign, with Fabian Schar sent off controversially against Southampton in the opening game of the campaign - although that decision did not involve VAR. Newcastle aren’t the only side to have benefitted from intervention from Stockley Park, however, with VAR making a number of calls across the Premier League already this season. Below we run through how the Premier League table might look without the use of the video technology as we subtract or add points based on decisions that have led to goals being given or ruled out by VAR. Take a look...
17. 4th: Chelsea - 14 points
Chelsea are also yet to be impacted by a VAR decision this campaign. Although VAR did check a Man City goal on the opening weekend, before agreeing with the on-field call. | Getty Images
18. 3rd: Arsenal - 17 points
VAR overturned a decision for the first time in an Arsenal game last weekend as Kai Havertz's 99th minute goal was given after an incorrect offside. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
19. Manchester City - 17 points
VAR has got involved just once for Man City this season when a penalty was awarded for a foul by Leif Davis on Savinho during their comfortable 4-1 win over Ipswich Town. The penalty was scored by Erling Haaland to draw the hosts level but the overall outcome would have likely resulted in a City win as they went on to score three more goals. | Getty Images
20. 1st: Liverpool - 18 points
VAR chalked off Trent Alexander-Arnold's goal in Liverpool's 3-0 win over Manchester United for an offside by Mo Salah. Didn't impact the result in the end, however. Bournemouth also had an early goal ruled out against the Reds for an offside against Antoine Semenyo but Liverpool went on to claim a 3-0 victory. | Getty Images