A non-contact version of rugby union will be implemented in schools to help the Rugby Football Union manage a "decline in participation over injury fears".

A review conducted by the RFU found fewer people are playing the sport at youth level and traditional private rugby schools because of injury concerns, and the view that it is a difficult game to introduce.

Contact, reduced contact and non-contact formats will be supported in schools, enabling established schools to offer alternative forms of the game in their maintained 'compulsory rugby term'.

Sir Jon Coles, chief executive of national schools group United Learning - who led the review - says that from "under-15 upwards" there will be a framework for full-contact rugby to give schools a "clear way" to manage injury risk.

"The RFU must now take bold steps to make sure that schools with a strong rugby tradition want to play rugby and other schools want to join in," Coles said in a RFU statement.

"Our proposals for the RFU to codify nationally three formats with clear competitive structures, are designed to make sure that established schools feel able to keep rugby firmly on their timetable for all pupils."

Currently in England, children can start to be introduced to contact rugby from under-nines., external

The aim is to have 5,000 schools playing the non-contact (T1) form of the game in the next four years, with a large untapped market in schools that have no tradition of playing rugby found in the review.

'Flatpacks' will be provided by the RFU, containing all the equipment needed to play T1 rugby, which will also have a range of resources for staff to be able to teach the format - even if they have no experience.

The goal is the introduction of a national network of 100 school rugby managers by 2027, with 40 already in place working across clusters of local schools.

The RFU's new reduced tackle height for all levels below professional rugby will also be clearly communicated to schools, parents and young players.

From the start of this season, the legal tackle height in community rugby was lowered from below the shoulders to the "base of the sternum" to reduce head injuries.

In January the RFU announced the tackle height would be from the "waist" down, a decision which was met with uproar in the game - resulting in an adjustment before this season.

Last year more than 300 former football, rugby league and rugby union players in the United Kingdom took legal action over brain injuries they claim to have sustained during their playing careers.

Forwards: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Taine Plumtree, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.

Backs: Tomos Williams, Rhodri Williams, Ellis Bevan, Sam Costelow, Gareth Anscombe, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Max Llewellyn, Eddie James, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Blair Murray, Rio Dyer, Josh Hathaway, Tom Rogers, Cameron Winnett.

Ask any regular watcher of the Gallagher Premiership to espouse its qualities, and the word "competitive" will almost certainly come up.

Last season's final table illustrated this: Leicester Tigers finished eighth, and only lost two fewer games than runners-up Bath. Fifth-placed Bristol scored more points, and conceded fewer, than champions Northampton. Going into the final round of the regular season, seven teams all had a chance of winning the title.

A salary cap system, designed to ensure equity across the board, means anyone should be able to beat anyone on their day.

However, for much of the past two years, Newcastle's 25-game losing streak threatened to undermine the Premiership's USP.

How can a league boast of being fiercely fought and uber-competitive if one club are just making up the numbers?

In a 10-team league, with only five matches per weekend, can the Premiership afford for one of those games to be a foregone conclusion?

With this in mind, Newcastles stirring 24-18 victory over Exeter was not only huge for the club and rugby union in the north-east of England, but for the very essence of the league itself.

Newcastle's win was as popular as it was long-awaited, widely welcomed by fans and pundits alike. Even our colleagues from BBC Radio Devon who could have understandably focused on the Chiefs' worrying start to the season paid tribute to Newcastle first and foremost at the final whistle.

With the smallest budget in the division, Falcons boss Steve Diamond needs his team to be confrontational and canny.

Sammy Arnold's try-making first-half tackle and Ethan Grayson's late drop-goal were great examples of this.

"We're trying to build something it's taking time, but the job in hand is to put on performances like that at home," said Diamond, who provided one of the images of the weekend as he chatted casually to an Exeter fan during the nervous final stages.

With Diamond declaring the "monkey is off the back", the challenge now is for the Falcons to take some more scalps.

But with the league shutting down over November for the autumn internationals, they will have to wait a full six weeks to have another crack at Kingston Park.

The 2024-25 NHL season is just two weeks old and already chock full of surprises.

Did we expect the Winnipeg Jets to be the last undefeated team? Or for the Calgary Flames to be steamrolling the competition? And what of the Utah Hockey Club, making expansion life look good?

It's been an exciting run -- for some. For others, not so much. There are backs against the wall, so to speak.

But it's still early ... right?

These five teams better hope so.

We're breaking down the clubs who came into the 2024-25 campaign rife with expectations that haven't quite lived up to the hype. What's holding them back? And how worried should fans be about their trajectory from here?

It's our (probably) too-early Panic Meter readings! Let's dissect the candidates:

Carolina Hurricanes

Stanley Cup odds: +1400
Record: 2-2-0, sixth in Metro

The problems: Granted, the Hurricanes are only four games into their season. It's still strange to see them at only the .500 mark and ahead of just the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets in the Metro Division.

So, yes. It's a small sample size. But Carolina has had some glaring inconsistencies, too. The Hurricanes are hurting themselves as the fourth-most penalized team in the league (averaging over five minutes per game) and that's been a costly, momentum-crushing trend, taxing their 13th-ranked penalty kill (83.3%) while keeping top-end skaters like Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov from doing what they do best on the offensive end. Carolina's 19th overall offensively (3.00 goals per game), and averaging the sixth-most shots (32.8), so the opportunities to challenge opponents are clearly there. It's a matter of the Hurricanes not being their own worst enemy.

Carolina knew going into the season that a) goalie health and b) goalie performance would be a significant factor for them, and while Frederik Andersen has been good so far, his counterpart Pyotr Kochetkov has struggled. The young netminder is 1-1-0 with an .867 SV% and 3.05 GAA, compared to Andersen's .936 SV% and 1.53 GAA. Andersen has been run aground by injuries in the past, so coach Rod Brind'Amour must be able to rely on Kotchetkov to support the veteran. That's still a work in progress.

Another cause for concern is the roller coaster that is Carolina's top defensive unit. Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin were on the ice for three of four goals against in the Hurricanes' loss to the St. Louis Blues, right after sparking Carolina to a dominant win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Burns is nearing 40 years old, and it shows in his foot speed; carrying nearly 23 minutes per game may not be sustainable, and it will require others on Carolina's back end to step up at some point and perhaps remove part of that pressure.

Panic meter reading: 5.5/10. Carolina has kept up in every game; it's the little mistakes they've got to start cleaning up, though. Bad habits have a way of snowballing and that's a real worry for the Hurricanes. Eliminating bad penalties and maximizing their scoring depth -- it's defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere currently leading the team in goals, with three -- will give Carolina more breathing room and that should push the Hurricanes up the standings.

If anything, it feels like Carolina is still searching for its identity and given the short runway they've had into the season that's not shocking. Time is always of the essence -- but in this case at least it's on the Hurricanes' side.

Colorado Avalanche

Stanley Cup odds: +1200
Record: 2-4-0, seventh in Central

The problems: Colorado's season began with an 0-4-0 mark for just the second time in franchise history (the other occurrence being 1998-99); it took overcoming a two-goal deficit against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday for the Avalanche to eventually earn their elusive first win of the year (in overtime, no less). Sunday's 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks -- featuring a pair of goals from Ross Colton and three points by Cale Makar -- is another step in the right direction. But Colorado has to prove it can produce positive results against the league's would-be contenders too along the way here too.

The Avalanche are 32nd already in goals against per game (4.83), due in large part to atrocious goaltending. Aleksandar Georgiev is 1-3-0 with an .811 save percentage and 4.99 goals-against average through Colorado's first five outings. Over those initial four losses, Colorado's starter had let in a league-high 17 goals. All the goal-scoring magic Nathan MacKinnon could muster won't make up for that sort of leaky netminding.

Special teams have been a hindrance as well. Colorado picked up where it left off in the second half of last season with an inconsistent penalty kill (29th in the league, at 68.4% through six games) that's overshadowing their second-ranked power play (38.1%). Again, goaltending woes play a factor in those poor short-handed stats, but the Avalanche's top penalty-killing unit (anchored by Makar and Colton) isn't getting the job done either in front of Georgiev.

That said, the Avalanche are missing key pieces from the lineup, including Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Artturi Lehkonen. Having their lineup impacted to that degree, with no way to replace it, and dealing with seriously sub-par goaltending is daunting task. Colorado has to be up for the challenge.

Panic meter reading: 7.5/10. The Avalanche have MacKinnon, and Makar, plus a fiery Mikko Rantanen. That's a top-tier trio with game-changing potential (and it was MacKinnon, of course, who potted that OT winner against the Ducks to secure Colorado's initial win). The Avalanche have been stingy defensively, sitting fourth best in shots against per game (25.5) and they've done well generating scoring opportunity up front, particularly from the slot.

That diminished scoring depth has contributed to why more chances aren't going in (Colorado is 11th in goals, averaging 3.50 per game) but there's a bright spot there as well: coach Jared Bednar said over the weekend he hopes Nichushkin, who is back skating on his own while completing a six-month suspension in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA assistance program, will be able to return by Nov. 13.

What the Avalanche must hope for is that its goaltending will improve, too. Colorado claimed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers over a week ago, and he was finally able to join the team on Saturday after dealing with immigration issues. Once he's up to speed, there's no doubt Colorado will insert him to take the edge off Georgiev. At the same time, Colorado has to push Georgiev into turning the corner, too. With a victory under his belt, now there's reason for the goaltender to feel better about his own game and allow that to translate into stringing further wins together for Colorado from here.

The Avalanche don't have cap space available to immediately address any areas of concern, so getting more out of the current roster is their only way to dig out of this early deficit.

Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup odds: +6000
Record: 2-3-0, eighth in Atlantic

The problems: The Red Wings are off to a glacial 2-3-0 start that includes a pair of victories over the league's only winless team (Nashville). That's not a ringing endorsement for where Detroit could be headed. This was supposed to be a season where the Red Wings finally punched their way back to the playoffs after being absent since 2015-16. Detroit came achingly close in 2023-24, falling just short of a postseason berth with a tie-breaking loss to Washington at the very end. The Red Wings might have hoped for some momentum to carry over into the new campaign, but it's been a tough slog (other than when they've faced the Predators, naturally).

Detroit's injured list has begun to fill up, with Tyler Motte and Christian Fischer suffering ailments already. But that's no excuse. The Red Wings' overall execution has lacked more than anything, particularly off the draw. Detroit is 27th in FOW% (46.4%) and they've seen momentum snatched away from goals scored directly off a poorly executed faceoff (see New York Rangers winger Reilly Smith's marker last week). Good teams have the details dialled in; Detroit is still getting there.

The Red Wings' special teams are another issue. Detroit owns the second-worst penalty kill in the league (62.5%) and their power play is a mediocre (15.8%). Those areas of the game that could boost the Red Wings aren't coming through often enough, and it's dragging them down. The same is true with their collective team defense, a long-time concern that's failed to improve over time. Detroit is tied for the second-most shots against per game (34.2) and even solid goaltending from both Alex Lyon (1-1-0, .938 SV%, 2.06 GAA) and Cam Talbot (1-1-0, 907 SV% and 3.31 GAA) can't fill the void.

Panic meter reading: 6.5/10. Detroit's early schedule has been odd, with the two outings against Nashville and two meetings already with the Rangers. Regardless, the Red Wings are showcasing too many of the same past problems to completely say they're on track to a different outcome than seasons past. Detroit has allowed 15 total goals in those three losses. Even with the likes of Dylan Larkin (who has three goals), Andrew Copp (same) and offseason addition Vladimir Tarasenko (two goals) sparking the offense, the Red Wings need even more hands to get on the right side of these scoresheets.

It's really whether Detroit can go all-in defensively that will likely determine their fate (again). Expecting to outscore their other troubles -- at 5-on-5 or special teams -- hasn't worked before, and won't work this season. If Detroit can buy in to what coach Derek Lalonde is preaching and keep getting capable goaltending and consistent scoring, their recipe for success could get them back in the postseason mix sooner than later.

Edmonton Oilers

Stanley Cup odds: +750
Record: 2-4-0, seventh in Pacific

The problems: Edmonton is not getting the goaltending it needs -- and that's affecting everything else. Stuart Skinner is 1-3-0 with an .851 SV% and 4.03 GAA. His backup Calvin Pickard is 1-1-0 with an .852 SV% and 3.28 GAA. Those are tough numbers to overcome at the best of times, but especially when Edmonton is also not generating a consistent amount of top-end offense.

Leon Draisaitl has three goals on the season and Connor McDavid has a goal and six points, but head coach Kris Knobloch has kept them together on a line with Zach Hyman (who has zero points through six games) and it doesn't make sense to load up a single unit when the results are there often enough. The case in point: Edmonton had a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday where the Oilers fell behind 3-0, and only Draisaitl's late third period goal kept Edmonton from being shut out for the second time in six games, the first one being a 6-0 drubbing by the Winnipeg Jets in their season opener.

While Draisaitl is the Oilers' leading scorer, he's also been punished by Knobloch already for poorly timed penalties. And Edmonton's special teams have been putrid as well -- the power play is operating at just 6.7% (good for 30th overall) and their penalty kill is dead-last in the NHL at 55%. When you're also averaging the fewest goals in the league (2.00) and are 27th in goals against (4.00), it's a brutal combination.

The bottom line for Edmonton is that until their offense improves, the Oilers' results won't get better, either. It's on Knobloch to make the right adjustments -- at even strength and on the power play -- so the Oilers can thrive.

Panic meter reading: 8/10. Listen, the Oilers have fooled us before. Last season Edmonton started 2-9-1 and turned things around so drastically they wound up in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. That's not to say history can repeat itself now, though. The Oilers' 1-4-0 start is nothing to feel good about, and shows there are an abundance of weaknesses in Edmonton's lineup that must be addressed.

It's not that the Oilers aren't getting their chances. They were the better team against Dallas in the first period on Saturday, but couldn't capitalize. The Stars took over from there and that spelled trouble for the Oilers. If they can find ways to make the most of those opportunities going forward, it'll be a different story.

On the plus side, Edmonton's depth has been solid. Jeff Skinner has four points in six games, Corey Perry has been his usual feisty self and there are significant signs of life on the back end. Edmonton has time to turn things around, but Knobloch must spread his talent out and let Draisaitl and McDavid drive their own lines. The goaltending and special teams must be looked into as well obviously, but what Edmonton needs more than ever is confidence. And that comes from stringing some wins together.

Nashville Predators

Stanley Cup odds: +2000
Record: 0-5-0, eighth in Central

The problems: Fun fact: no NHL team that has started 0-5-0 has reached the postseason since 2005-06. And Nashville is exactly that, boasting (?) a franchise-worst start that took another blow in Saturday's lopsided 5-2 loss to Detroit. Suffice to say then, the Predators face an uphill battle to make the postseason.

Nashville's new-look lineup has fallen well short of expectations in a winless stretch to open this campaign -- they are the last remaining NHL team without a point, to boot -- and the issues keep stacking up.

Let's start at the beginning. Nashville is allowing the second-most goals (4.60 per game) and scoring the fewest (2.00). And that's while the Predators are also averaging the most shots (35.4 per game) in the league. What conclusions can be drawn? Nashville's goaltending -- and ability to actually finish on their chances -- are out of whack.

Juuse Saros has looked humbly human in net for the Predators, with an 0-4-0 record, .875 SV% and 3.64 GAA. Scott Wedgewood is right behind him and absolutely no better at 0-1-0 with an .800 SV% and 4.21 GAA.

Offensively the Predators haven't looked nearly as dominant as predicted given the additions they made in the offseason. Highly prized free agent signees Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault haven't clicked yet in the system, and that's slowed the Predators' attack. Stamkos didn't score for the first time until Saturday's loss against Detroit, and while Marchessault has four points in five games, he hasn't been a real difference-maker out of the gate.

Nashville appears to be lacking chemistry, and head coach Andrew Brunette is at a loss already to find combinations that click.

Panic meter reading: 9.5/10. This team is in a bad spot. There's no way to sugarcoat being the only NHL club without a point, especially when the roster has such depth of talent. Nashville's defensive efforts haven't been terrible, either. The Predators have allowed the ninth fewest in shots against per game (27.4), but without the saves it doesn't mean much to be decent enough on the back end. Roman Josi is averaging over 27 minutes per game -- tied for most among defenseman with Quinn Hughes -- and that's a heavy ask of the 34-year-old.

Brunette said on Saturday the Predators' awful opening isn't for "lack of trying," and that's true. Nashville is clearly putting in effort. It's that the Predators are making big mistakes -- and there's no coming back from those on a shift-by-shift basis if your goaltending is a mess. And the more Nashville sees pucks going in, the more players are gripping their sticks too tightly -- compounding those infuriating errors.

Are there silver linings? Maybe. Filip Forsberg has been solid out of the gate -- he leads the team with two goals and five points -- and there is a genuinely strong leadership unit in the room headed by Ryan O'Reilly, Josi and, in time, Stamkos. The fact Nashville can at least create chances is good, too.

The only solution for Nashville? Find a way to win a game. It can be the scrappiest, ugliest, least-aesthetically pleasing victory. But what this group needs more than anything is just to know it can get the job done once -- and confidence should build from there.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has said his team need to "eradicate" the ill discipline that has seen them pick up three red cards in eight Premier League games this season.

William Saliba's red card in the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth followed those of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard earlier this term.

"Playing with 10 men always is an issue," Arteta said at his news conference ahead of Arsenal's UEFA Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. "The trust is, when you analyse it, three different very actions and the outcome of them, the reasons are very different.

"Regardless of that we cannot continue to play with 10 men at this level. We need to eradicate that, it's clear. The reasons, how; it doesn't matter. We have to focus."

The loss to Bournemouth was Arsenal's first of the campaign. In the previous games where Rice and Trossard were shown red cards, against Brighton and Manchester City, the north London side managed to earn a point.

Arteta added that his team needed to use the "pain" of their defeat as motivation for their upcoming games.

"We cannot continue to play with ten men, easier to say it then to get it done," he said. "Specific moments. Reacting, we have a defeat. Very specific conditions as well.

"Let's move on, take that pain we have and use it tomorrow night."

Club captain Martin Ødegaard and star winger Bukayo Saka both missed Arsenal's trip to Bournemouth with injuries.

Arteta said Saka could return in time for Tuesday night's game at the Emirates, though it comes too soon for the Norway international.

"They are closer. Both progressing well," he said. "Martin not fit. With Bukayo let's see how he is with the training session later on."

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has said he has begun talks over a new deal but insisted he has "no idea" if he will remain at Anfield next season.

There is ongoing uncertainty over the future of a trio of Liverpool's key players, as the contracts of Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah all expire at the end of this term.

Van Dijk, 33, confirmed that contract negotiations have taken place but did not commit his future to the club.

"I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don't know, we will see what happens in the future," he said.

"My very full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else. What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see.

"I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun. Discussions are ongoing with the right people and when it's time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys [the media] will know it as well.

"But now full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season. So we will see."

Alexander-Arnold has been subject to similar questions amid links to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Those reports prompted Slot to say his players are not distracted by speculation over their futures.

"I think you underestimate our players. These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis, if they have contracts or not," he told a news conference on Friday.

"If you think they're disturbed by this interest then you don't do justice to how strong they are mentally. This is part of our job. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do.

"Maybe if you're 17 or 18 years of age it could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League; Virgil and Mo the same. I don't think that is a problem for them to perform and that's what we see at the moment because they're playing really well."

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?

After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.

In this week's VAR Review: Was William Saliba's red card for Arsenal the correct decision? And does that mean Chelsea's Tosin Adarabioyo should have been sent off? And why was Manchester City's winning goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers deemed to be onside? That and all the other high-profile incidents on a busy weekend for VAR.

Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal

Possible red card: Saliba challenge on Evanilson

What happened: The match was in the 30th minute when Leandro Trossard tried to play a pass back toward his own defence. However, the Belgium international got it wrong and placed it into open space in his own half. Evanilson was ahead of the Arsenal back line, but couldn't be offside as the ball was played by Trossard. As the AFC Bournemouth striker moved to run to the ball, he was pulled down by William Saliba. Referee Rob Jones produced a yellow card but the VAR, Jarred Gillett, checked for a possible red card.

VAR decision: Red card.

VAR review: There are four factors that referees have to consider when judging if a player has denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) -- which is a red card:

- distance between the offence and the goal
- general direction of the play
- likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball
- location and number of defenders

It's an assessment balanced across the four elements -- though the further away from goal a foul takes place the greater the importance of the other three. For instance, there's a greater chance for another defender could cover if a foul takes place in a deep position.

It's about judging the probabilities, and when the likelihood of a shot on goal outweighs any doubts -- and a couple of factors get this to the threshold of DOGSO for the VAR.

Importantly, the ball from Trossard is coming to a quick stop, rather than continuing to run through to David Raya, and it has been played in the direction of the goal. There's a strong likelihood that Evanilson will gain control of the ball. Ben White isn't in close proximity to realistically be able to make a challenge, so the location of defenders doesn't help Saliba. Raya also isn't coming out of his goal (the VAR showed the referee that the goalkeeper was backtracking rather than coming forward), so Evanilson has a very high chance of a shot on goal.

The best way to assess the situation is to imagine the picture with Saliba removed, meaning Evanilson has a clear run.

Then on Sunday, right at the start of Liverpool's match at home to Chelsea, we saw a similar situation. Yet no two incidents are ever the same, each is individually assessed according to set criteria, be that DOGSO or, as we'll come back to shortly, offside.

The foul by Tosin Adarabioyo on Diogo Jota did also happen a long way from goal, close to the halfway line. If we consider that the Saliba challenge just met the threshold for a VAR review for DOGSO, there were two very important differences which mean Adarabioyo's yellow card was a justifiable outcome.

The pass forward meant the ball was spinning toward the right channel, rather then toward goal. Levi Colwill was also on the cover behind which places doubts about Jota gaining control, and as the Liverpool player would not have had a direct run on goal there's enough doubt.

Wolves 1-2 Man City

Possible goal: No Silva offside on Stones goal

What happened: The game was into the final seconds of stoppage time when Man City won a corner. Phil Foden delivered from the right, and John Stones headed home. As the players celebrated, referee Chris Kavanagh was deep in conversation with his assistant about a possible offside against Bernardo Silva in front of the goalkeeper. After 28 seconds, the on-field officials decided to disallow the goal. It was checked by the VAR, Stuart Attwell. (watch here)

VAR decision: Goal.

VAR review: This caused a lot of controversy, probably because it involved a match-winning goal for one of the Big Six against a so-called smaller team, yet in truth it was a very straightforward decision.

The goal was originally ruled out because Silva was in goalkeeper José Sá's line of vision, which is impacting an opponent from an offside position.

How and when an offside phase is created is critical to this. When Foden delivers the corner there is some contact between Silva and Sá, but no player can be offside from a corner. So, during the flight of the corner, Silva could only be penalised for a standard foul -- and there was never enough in the bump. Anything that happens before the point of Stones' header is therefore irrelevant; when Stones heads the ball, Silva is not committing an offside offence. Silva has moved to the side of Sa and crouched down.

It's a very simple VAR overturn and undoubtedly the correct decision.

You can understand the frustration of Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, who last season saw a stoppage-time equaliser against West Ham United ruled out for offside in similar circumstances: similar but, again, not the same. Max Kilman had headed home from a corner but the VAR said the goal should be disallowed because of Tawanda Chirewa's position.

Unlike in the Silva example, Chirewa was stood directly in front of Lukasz Fabianski. Being in the line of vision isn't solely about the goalkeeper being able to see the ball, but also about possible impact. A player stood up directly in front of a goalkeeper, as Chirewa was, is always likely to be penalised. Silva was not directly in front of Sa when Stones headed the ball.

More comparable is the VAR intervention to allow Leicester City's goal at Fulham at the start of the season. The on-field officials had wrongly disallowed a Wout Faes goal for offside against Jamie Vardy; the striker was in contact with goalkeeper Bernd Leno when a cross came over, but at the point of the Faes header had moved away and wasn't in the line of vision.

As with all subjective decisions, the referee has to go to the monitor to confirm the overturn.

Southampton 2-3 Leicester

Possible penalty and red card: Fraser challenge on Vardy

What happened: Leicester City were on the attack in the 73rd minute when Fatawu Issahaku saw a header saved by Aaron Ramsdale. With the Southampton goalkeeper on the ground, Jamie Vardy seemed certain to tap home the loose ball but Ryan Manning got there first to clear. Vardy immediately complained to referee Anthony Taylor that he had been held back by Ryan Fraser, and it was looked at by the VAR, Alex Chilowicz.

VAR decision: Red card and penalty, scored by Vardy.

VAR review: In last week's VAR Review we discussed how impact is usually the key consideration for a holding offence. Chilowicz determined that by holding onto Vardy's shirt, Fraser had clearly prevented Vardy from being able to tap the ball home -- meaning it's not only a penalty, but also red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

The problem is that moments earlier Southampton had their own claim for a penalty, which was checked and cleared. The VAR agreed with the referee that André Ayew's actions were of no consequence as Paul Onuachu wouldn't have been able to challenge goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who caught the ball.

In many respects the Ayew incident was more blatant. He was clearly holding Onuachu as a corner was delivered, resulting in a "coat hanger effect" on his shirt. It's the kind of holding that often does result in a penalty, but oddly in this case there was no appeal by Onuachu or any Southampton player (not that it should influence a possible review.)

It's probably the full-speed replay that persuades the VAR to back the referee's judgement that there was no impact, but it looks and feels like a non-footballing action by Ayew -- the kind that saw Everton concede a penalty against Newcastle when James Tarkowski dragged down Sandro Tonali. It's not as blatant as that, but there was still no interest in trying to play the ball or challenge an opponent.

Fulham 1-3 Aston Villa

Possible penalty: Handball by Cash

What happened: Fulham were on the attack in the 24th minute. A cross was swung over from the right by Kenny Tete, Raúl Jiménez headed the ball down and it hit the arm of Matty Cash. Jiménez appealed for the penalty, but referee Darren England was unmoved.

VAR decision: Penalty, Andreas Pereira shot saved by Emiliano Martínez.

VAR review: Before this incident, the Premier League had seen 71 matches played without a single handball penalty. It gave the impression that handball would have to be very blatant to penalised, even more so for a VAR intervention. And it's for that reason that this spot kick seems on the harsh side, as the ball hit Cash from such close proximity.

The VAR, Paul Tierney, has to consider if that arm position is justifiable for the player's movement. What goes against Cash is his arm being fully extended away from the body, creating a barrier as Jiménez's header is aimed to find Emile Smith Rowe, and this is why it's unlikely to be seen as a wrong intervention.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Possible penalty overturn: Sánchez challenge on Jones

What happened: Liverpool were awarded their second penalty of the game in first-half stoppage time. Curtis Jones broke through in the area and appeared to be clattered by goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, and referee John Brooks pointed to the spot. Michael Oliver on VAR duty checked the decision.

VAR decision: Penalty cancelled.

VAR review: At first it looked like a certain penalty, with Jones spinning over after Sánchez had collided with him. However, once the replay from the opposite end of the pitch showed that Sánchez had played the ball rather than the man, a VAR intervention was always likely.

Winning the ball doesn't automatically mean a penalty can't be awarded; if a player's actions are deemed reckless in winning the ball it can still be a foul. Sánchez probably ran quite close to this, though the way Jones flipped over perhaps made it look a little worse.

Tottenham 4-1 West Ham

Possible penalty: Handball by Udogie

What happened: Mohammed Kudus wanted a penalty in the 62nd minute when his goal-bound shot was stopped on the line by Destiny Udogie. Referee Andy Madley ignored the appeals for handball.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: While the ball did hit the arm of Udogie, it was against his body and therefore not making him any bigger. If the ball is going to hit the body regardless of the arm position, then the only way there could be a handball is if it's deliberate.

Possible red card: Violent conduct by Kudus

What happened: The game was in the 86th minute when Kudus and Micky van de Ven got involved in an altercation, which resulted in both sets of players steaming in. After things settled down, referee Madley chose to book both players, and it was checked by the VAR, Chris Kavanagh.

VAR decision: Red card.

VAR review: Within the melee the referee had missed a hand into the face by Kudus, twice. Either could be seen as violent conduct, but the second on Pape Matar Sarr, which saw the West Ham United forward thrust his hand forward into the face, was definitely a red card.

A player can get away with a hand to an opponent's face if "the force used was negligible," which is probably why the referee was shown the Sarr push rather than Van de Ven.

Ipswich 0-2 Everton

Possible penalty overturn: Foul by McNeil on Clarke

What happened: Ipswich Town were awarded a penalty in the 26th minute when Jack Clarke danced through the area and went down under a challenge from Dwight McNeil. Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot but the VAR, Graham Scott, sent him to the monitor to reverse his decision.

VAR decision: Penalty cancelled.

VAR review: In the last round before the international break. Everton boss Sean Dyche was furious when his side weren't given a penalty when Dominic Calvert-Lewin kicked the leg of Newcastle United defender Dan Burn when in the act of shooting. After this incident, you can't say the two outcomes weren't consistent.

As noted in the VAR Review for the incident, had a penalty been awarded in the Everton-Newcastle game there was a strong chance of a VAR intervention to cancel the spot kick for a foul by Calvert-Lewin.

And that's exactly what happened here, play restarted with a free kick to Everton for a foul by Clarke.

As the Ipswich player tries to shoot, McNeil doesn't make an attempt to place his foot into the running line and doesn't cause a foul himself.

Newcastle 0-1 Brighton

Possible penalty: Handball by Veltman

What happened: The game was in the seventh minute when Lewis Hall tried to break into the area, and went down under a challenge from Joël Veltman. The Brighton & Hove Albion player went to ground too, and as he did so appear to drag the ball back with his arm as Hall got back to his feet. Referee Peter Bankes didn't feel there was a handball offence as Hall appealed. (watch here)

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: One of the exemptions from a handball offence covers a player using his arm to support his body, but that's overridden if there's a deliberate handball. So the VAR, Tony Harrington, has to be certain that Veltman has pulled the ball back to prevent it running to Hall, rather than just placing his arm down when falling.

The main camera angle looks damning, but the one behind the goal suggests Veltman's arm landed on the ball, rather than a purposeful act to move it away from running into Hall's path.

Some factual parts of this article include information provided by the Premier League and PGMOL.