Villa 'would be top of EPL without VAR'... while Chelsea 'could be even worse'

Aston Villa would be top of the Premier League if VAR was not in operation this season, according to a study.

Unai Emery's side after currently second in the table with the Premier League season having now passed the halfway point.

The surprise title challengers are three points behind Liverpool, but would have been the league leaders if VAR did not exist.

According to a study by The Sun, Aston Villa would have earned four more points had VAR not been in operation.

The Villans would have won rather than drawn against Bournemouth and Sheffield United, where Diego Carlos and Leon Bailey saw goals ruled out in the respective matches.

Liverpool's points tally remains unchanged, despite the Reds being involved in one of the season's biggest controversies, with Luis Diaz's goal in their loss to Tottenham not awarded despite the Colombian being onside.

The goal would remain chalked off in the study, which maintained the officials on-field decisions.

The study also assumed penalties that were overturned would have resulted in goals, while spot kicks awarded via VAR would be disallowed.

Arsenal and Tottenham would both by on 41 points after gaining one and two points respectively, with Man City a point behind but boasting a game in hand.

Brighton would reportedly be five points better off had VAR not been in operation, with the Seagulls rising above West Ham to sixth in the table

Chelsea, who are currently 10th after a disappointing start under Mauricio Pochettino, would have dropped a further two places in the table.

The Blues would be six points worse off having benefited the most from VAR interventions, according to the study.

The relegation battle would have been even tighter with 18th place Luton gaining a point to move level on