In the catalogue of football cliches, decisions balance out over the course of the Premier League season is up there with one of the oldest in the book.

It used to be a fairly accurate statement but how times have changed, and since the introduction of VAR into the English top-flight, it may no longer be true.

The latest round of fixtures was yet another off-day for the video assistant referee as controversy reigned supreme in the Premier League match-ups taking place.

Even by VAR standards, it was a bad weekend. Where do we begin?

Stockley Park have admitted that VAR official David Coote made a blunder in failing to send off Tottenham's Giovani Lo Celso after a badly-timed challenge on Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta .

The Argentinian stayed on the field despite a tackle on the Blues skipper which Chelsea boss Frank Lampard described as a leg breaker after his side's 2-1 home win on Saturday.

But the errors didn't stop there, Bournemouth were at the centre of controversy during their game at Turf Moor as the Cherries fell to a 3-0 defeat to Burnley .

Eddie Howe's men thought Harry Wilson had scored an equaliser when the Clarets were only 1-0 in front but the goal was chalked off and a penalty was awarded to the home side.

In a bizarre twist of fate, the play was pulled back after Bournemouth defender Adam Smith was adjudged to have handled in his area at the very start of the build-up to his side's goal.

That meant Wilson's effort was chalked off and Jay Rodriguez confidently dispatched the resulting spot-kick to double Burnley's lead.

It was a game-defining moment and it wasn't the first time that technology has swung a match in a team's favour.

Here we take a look at five of the most controversial and points costly decisions that VAR has been culpable for this season.

Pedro Neto vs Liverpool

There is no arguing that Premier League leaders Liverpool are worthy of their spot at the top of the table, but they were fortunate to claim all three points when Wolves visited Anfield.

With the Reds leading 1-0, Wolves forward Pedro Neto thought he had netted a leveller on the stroke of half time, but his armpit was ruled in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

Liverpool held out for the victory.

Jonjo Shelvey vs Sheffield Utd

The game was in the balance and then one of the craziest occurrences of play to the whistle happened.

Newcastle were leading 1-0 but the Blades were looking increasingly threatening, that was until Shelvey ran unopposed to notch past a statuesque Dean Henderson in the Sheffield goal.

Andy Carroll had been waved offside, Sheffield United's backline stood still, Shelvey collected Carroll's flick-on, stuck the ball home and after VAR consultation the goal was awarded.

The Geordies ran out 2-0 winners.

Kurt Zouma vs Man Utd

Lampard's men were again exposed to the harsh injustice of VAR during their match against United at Stamford Bridge.

With Chelsea trailing, Kurt Zouma thought he had brought his side level from a corner but Azpilicueta was deemed to have pushed Brandon Williams in a related off the ball incident.

Replays then showed that the Spaniard had indeed made contact with the young left-back but only because Fred had pushed Azpilicueta first.

The Red Devils went on to record a 2-0 victory.

Teemu Pukki vs Tottenham

At the time the Canaries were leading 1-0 and had Tottenham on the back foot. Teemu Pukki thought he had doubled his side's advantage with a clinical finish but his joy was short-lived.

Where José Mourinho's defence had failed, VAR prevailed. The Finnish striker looked to have beaten the offside trap but his arm was literally millimetres in front of Spurs centre-back Jan Vertonghen.

After VAR deliberation, the goal was taken away and eventually Spurs earned a point in a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road.

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