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One of the biggest stories of the Premier League season so far has been the decline of goals scored in open-play scenarios and how teams are netting more from dead-ball situations as an alternative.

When we compare goal sources to matchday 11 last season, there have been 39 fewer scored in open-play and an increase of 26 from team set-pieces and spot-kicks, giving us 13 fewer in total.

If we look at the broader view, efforts on goal teams are taking show a staggering drop of 370 in open-play than this time last time out.

Regardless of the significant rise in set-piece goals, records show only two additional shots created from these situations outside of penalties, demonstrating how effective sides have been at finding ways to net from set-pieces.

Goal Statistics Show the Tale

301 total goals notched in 110 matches to date calculates at 2.74 scores per game, if this persists for all 38 games could be the lowest for half a decade, since 2020-21 (2.69 per game).

However, only under 200 goals coming in open-play translates to 1.78 each match and is on course to be the smallest for 16 years, back in 2009-10 (1.76).

The 2009-10 season additionally represents the unique EPL campaign to witness scoring more frequently from dead-balls without spot-kicks than this campaign's frequency of 0.77 per game (0.79).

Which Sides Are Most Responsible?

In terms of goals scored from open-play, Wolves have recorded by far the biggest drop, netting only four in 11 games, 10 fewer than at this stage last season.

Excluding Wolverhampton, the EPL's drop in open-play scoring is predominantly a trend among London clubs, with half of the London's seven clubs recording at least five goals fewer from open play than the previous year.

In fairness, this is primarily due to their scoring numerous goals at the early stages of last season instead of their genuine struggle to find the net in open play this campaign.

At the same time Manchester City have recorded the largest rise, with almost every one of the 23 they've scored to date originating in open-play.

Set-Play Proficiency

We've compared clubs that came up with those that were relegated they replaced. Sunderland the Black Cats have recorded an additional three scores in open-play than the Saints achieved in their first 11 games on their way to relegation last season.

In terms of goals scored from dead-ball situations (aside from penalties), the Gunners and the Blues have experienced the largest rise, with each team making up for the five fewer scores that they've netted in open play with identical figures from dead-ball chances.

United have recorded two times more goals from set-pieces as they managed in the 11 games the previous campaign ahead of Ruben Amorim took charge, while Sunderland again are better at netting than the club they replaced they superseded.

Manchester City seem unaware of the message about netting additional goals from set-pieces, since they've netted a reduction of three than last season, similar to Forest, though this may result from the change in style they've attempted to adopt.

Overall Patterns

Six clubs – Arsenal, the Blues, Fulham, the Magpies, Tottenham and the Hammers – have been this season's primary examples by netting less goals from open-play and increased from set-pieces, while City are the sole team to buck the trend so far by achieving the complete reverse.

It will be interesting to see if teams carry on to place such emphasis on set-plays as matches continue or if they find again their overall inventiveness and start converting additional scores in open-play as well.