It seems like a week can’t go by in the Premier League without VAR stealing the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and this past weekend was again no exception.
From Dele Alli using his arm to control the ball before scoring Tottenham’s equaliser to Manchester United not having their goal against Liverpool ruled out due to an obvious foul on Divock Origi in the build-up, everything wrong decision that VAR could give was seemingly given, except in Southampton’s game against Wolves.
The Saints might have drawn the game 1-1, but without VAR, it would have been a completely different story as Raul Jimenez scored twice with the game still at 0-0. However, both of these goals from the Mexican international were wiped away by the newly introduced featured, one for a handball in the build-up and the other for an uncalled offside.
It was arguably the only two examples of VAR in the Premier League being used correctly, yet for Southampton, it proved to be yet another game where the officials in Stockley Park came to their rescue once again and saved the Saints a well-needed point.
We have seen this season VAR aid Southampton in a massive way, namely in the Saints 1-0 win over Sheffield United last month that saw Oli McBurnie’s header in the second-half ruled out for offside, seemingly saving Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side three points.
Whilst there is nothing wrong with Southampton’s seemingly good luck with VAR in recent weeks, it is becoming a problem for the club that these favourable decisions seem to be the sole reason as to why more points are won than the actual performance on the pitch.
There’s no hiding the fact that Southampton have been poor this season, with the south coast club currently above the relegation zone due to goal difference in the Premier League table, and whilst VAR has been their ally this season, this won’t happen for every game, and sooner or later decisions won’t begin to go the Saints way.
Performances need to pick up for Hasenhuttl’s side, who currently find themselves in a dangerous position in the league table after nine games.
