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A major talking point of the EPL season so far is the decline of scoring in open-play scenarios and the way teams are finding goals more from dead-ball situations instead.

When we compare goal sources to the first 11 games the prior season, we note a drop of 39 scored in open-play and an increase of 26 from team set-pieces and spot-kicks, leading to 13 fewer overall.

Considering overall statistics, the number of shots teams are taking show an incredible 370 fewer in open play than this time previously.

And despite the notable jump in set-piece goals, records show a mere two extra shots produced from these situations excluding penalties, indicating the efficiency clubs are at finding ways to convert from set-pieces.

Goal Statistics Tell a Story

301 total goals notched in the first 110 fixtures up to now calculates at 2.74 scores each match, if this persists for the whole season might be the smallest for half a decade, since 2020-21 (2.69).

However, only 196 goals coming in open play equates to 1.78 per game and is heading to be the smallest for 16 years, from 16 years ago (1.76 average).

That campaign additionally represents the unique EPL campaign to see goals scored more frequently from non-penalty set-pieces than this season's rate of 0.77 each match (0.79).

Which Sides Account for This Change?

Regarding scoring from open-play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have experienced the most significant drop, scoring only four in their first 11 fixtures, 10 fewer than this point last season.

Outside of Wolves, the Premier League's drop in open play goals is predominantly a trend among London clubs, with half of the city's seven teams recording at least five goals fewer from open play than the prior season.

To be fair, this is primarily due to their scoring many scores at the start of the previous campaign as opposed to them having difficulty to convert in open play this season.

Meanwhile Man City have experienced the biggest increase, with almost every one of their 23 scores so far coming in open-play.

Set-Piece Success

Comparing clubs that came up with the relegated sides that they superseded. Sunderland Sunderland have recorded three extra goals in open play than Southampton managed in their first 11 games on their way to relegation the previous campaign.

In terms of goals scored from dead-ball situations (excluding penalties), the Gunners and the Blues have recorded the largest rise, with the two clubs compensating for the reduction of five scores that they've netted in open-play with an equal amount from dead-ball chances.

United have netted double the number scores from set-pieces as they did in the 11 games the previous campaign prior to their coach took over, while Sunderland once more have been more effective at scoring than the club they replaced they replaced.

City don't seem to have got the memo about netting additional goals from set-plays, as they've scored a reduction of three than last season, similar to the Reds, although that might be down to the altered approach they've attempted to adopt.

League-Wide Trends

Six sides – Arsenal, the Blues, Fulham, Newcastle, Tottenham and the Hammers – are this term's top trend-setters by recording fewer scores from open-play and increased from set-pieces, while City represent the sole team to go against the grain to date by doing the exact opposite.

It will be fascinating to watch if teams persist to place such emphasis on set-plays as the season goes on or if they find again their all-round creativity and begin converting increased totals in open play too.