Manchester United and Manchester City have had contrasting starts to the Premier League season. For Pep Guardiola’s side, they are just one point behind early leaders Liverpool as they look to win a fifth-straight Premier League crown.
United have had a tougher start, with Erik ten Hag already under pressure following three defeats from six Premier League games. Two of those have come at Old Trafford as the Red Devils lost 3-0 to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the early part of the campaign. A draw in the Europa League with FC Twente has also led to criticism of the Dutchman but United have kept the faith with Ten Hag so far.
Both City and United have just one more league game before the second international break of the season comes around but how might the early table look without the impact of VAR? Stockley Park has got involved in a number of games this term but have also allowed on-field officials greater control compared to the same stage last season. Below we run through how each team’s points total might have been affected by no video technology, based on goals - including those scored via VAR-impacted penalties - awarded and disallowed by Stockley Park.
1. 20th: Wolves - 1 point
VAR awarded a penalty to Brentford in Wolves' 5-3 defeat ahead of the international break. Bryan Mbeumo scored it. | Wolves via Getty Images
2. 19th: Southampton - 1 point
Southampton have had a tough start to life back in the Premier League but have not had any VAR contention to deal with so far. | Getty Images
3. 18th: Crystal Palace - 2 points (- 1 point)
Without VAR, Palace would be a point worse off after Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal was awarded after an incorrect offside in their 2-2 draw with Leicester City. | Getty Images
4. 17th: Ipswich Town - 4 points
There has been the one VAR decision against the Premier League new boys but it came in a game they lost 4-1 at Man City. | Getty Images