VARcicle: Analysing Every Refereeing Decision Made on Matchday 9 of the Premier League

Just like across Europe over the last two years, the introduction of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Premier League this season hasn't gone down too well for fans either in the stadium or at home.

But while there have only been one or two incidents on any given weekend so far, matchday nine's first eight games produced a host of controversial moments that left supporters scratching their heads on Saturday.

So along with 90min's verdict on if the decision made by the VAR was correct or not, here's a closer look at all the big decisions which were decided by technology so far this weekend.

Chris Wood vs Leicester City

On-field decision: Goal

VAR: No goal (foul)

Perhaps one of the hardest decisions of the weekend, Chris Wood's late equaliser against Leicester City was chalked off after it was deemed that the striker had tripped Jonny Evans before the ball crossed the line.

While replays certainly showed that Evans was clipped ever so slightly, Wood's eyes remained firmly on the ball and certainly wasn't guilty of committing a foul.

It's probably time for the FA to clear up what exactly a free-kick or penalty is given for - either someone committing a foul or someone getting fouled - to help clear up any more confusion which could come about from decisions like this.

Perhaps more worrying was that the referee, Jon Moss, didn't go to review the decision himself, instead taking the VAR's decision on what was clearly a subjective decision.

90min's Verdict: Incorrect decision

Gerard Deulofeu vs Tottenham

On-field decision: No penalty

VAR: No penalty (no foul)

If we're taking Wood's disallowed goal against Leicester as the level which the VAR intervenes for contact inside the area, then how Gerard Deulofeu wasn't rewarded with a penalty against Tottenham becomes all the more confusing.

After finding his way into the area, Jan Vertonghen went to ground and tripped the Watford forward up - something that was missed by referee Chris Kavanagh, who in his defence could have been unsighted.

It was a wrong decision that was both clear and obvious.

But the Premier League's high bar for overturning decisions (which seemingly wasn't being used at the King Power Stadium) apparently wasn't met and Watford were denied the chance to double their lead - eventually going on to draw the match.

90min's Verdict: Incorrect decision

Kevin De Bruyne vs Crystal Palace

On-field decision: No penalty

VAR: No penalty (no foul)

Football is a contact sport. Players can use a hand to help judge the distance from another player, they're still allowed to tussle with one another and shoulder barges are often cheered louder than goals at some grounds.

But there's very little doubt that coming in from behind an attacking player, putting both hands on their torso and pulling them down to the ground is certainly a foul.

That, however, wasn't the case at Selhurst Park when Wilfried Zaha dragged Kevin De Bruyne down inside the penalty area.

While that decision didn't have an impact on the final score, Pep Guardiola certainly let his feelings be known after game where he was seething with the decision from the Video Assistant Referee.

90min's Verdict: Incorrect decision

Patrick Cutrone vs Southampton

On-field decision: Goal

VAR: No goal (offside)

While the introduction of a Video Assistant Referee hasn't helped clear things up when it comes to subjective decisions, the Premier League's new technology has all-but eradicated any chance of a team scoring from an offside position.

And that was the case of Saturday when Raúl Jiménez's opener was chalked off after replays showed summer signing Patrick Cutrone was offside in the build-up to the goal.

While there will still be some fans disgruntled that Cutrone's offside was earlier in the move, the VAR's intervention showed exactly why it's introduction - in concept at least - will only be a good thing for professional football.

90min's Verdict: Correct decision

Dele Alli vs Watford

On-field decision: Goal

VAR: Goal (no handball)

One incident. Two glaring issues with VAR.

There were very few protests when Dele Alli netted a late equaliser against Watford on Saturday, capitalising on a mix up between Ben Foster and Kiko Femenía to snatch a point for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

But replays showed that the England international might have controlled that ball with his arm, although the camera angles still couldn't exactly confirm if the ball came off the top of Dele's arm or his shoulder.

Dele's reaction after the ball went into the back of the net certainly looked like that of someone who was expecting the goal to be ruled out, but the on-field decision was allowed to stand and Tottenham avoided back-to-back defeats.

What made everything more confusing was that after the decision was made to award the goal, the VAR decision came up on the big screens saying that the goal had actually been ruled out.

90min's Verdict: Incorrect decision

Conor Hourihane vs Brighton

On-field decision: Goal

VAR: No goal (foul)

Any decisions in a match between Aston Villa and Brighton will hardly get any top-level media coverage, especially considering the hosts still picked up three points even after having the VAR work against them.

While both sides were waiting for an opener, Conor Hourihane appeared to beak the deadlock with a stunning strike from the edge of the box after goalkeeper Mat Ryan fumbled a looping cross.

Ryan was under pressure from Wesley when he went for the ball and although there was very little in it at all - Brighton's goalkeeper largely got himself into trouble by misjudging the flight of the ball - the VAR still ruled out Hourihane's effort.

It's been chalked up as a pretty clear example of goalkeepers being too protected by officials, but in reality, it was an awful decision which could have cost Villa an important result in their hopes of avoiding relegation.

90min's Verdict: Incorrect decision

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Source : 90min