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A key narrative of the EPL this campaign concerns the reduction of scoring in open-play scenarios and how teams are finding goals more from dead-ball situations as an alternative.

Comparing goal sources to the initial 11 matches the prior season, there have been a drop of 39 goals in open play and an increase of 26 from team set-pieces and penalties, resulting in 13 fewer overall.

If we look at the bigger picture, the number of shots clubs are making reveal a remarkable 370 fewer in open-play than at this stage last season.

Even with the significant rise in set-piece goals, there have actually been just two more attempts created from them outside of penalties, demonstrating the proficiency sides have been at devising strategies to convert from dead-ball situations.

Goal Statistics Reveal the Tale

The 301 goals notched in 110 games to date works out at 2.74 scores each match, if this persists for all 38 games could be the lowest for five years, back in 2020-21 (2.69 per game).

However, only 196 goals scored in open-play translates to 1.78 per fixture and is tracking to be the smallest for 16 years, from 16 years ago (1.76).

That campaign is also the unique EPL season to witness scoring more often from set-plays excluding penalties than this season's rate of 0.77 per game (0.79 average).

What Clubs Bear the Most Responsibility?

Regarding goals scored from open play, Wolves have recorded by far the biggest drop, registering only four in 11 matches, a reduction of 10 than this point last season.

Apart from Wolves, England's top division's drop in open play goals is largely a London thing, with five out of the capital's seven sides netting at least five less scores from open play than the previous year.

In fairness, this is primarily due to them scoring numerous goals at the start of last season instead of their genuine struggle to convert in open-play this season.

At the same time Man City have seen the most significant jump, with almost every one of the 23 they've scored so far coming in open-play.

Set-Play Proficiency

We've compared the promoted teams with the relegated sides they took the place of. Sunderland the Black Cats have scored three more scores in open-play than Southampton achieved in their first 11 games on their way to relegation last season.

In terms of goals scored from dead-ball situations (excluding spot-kicks), Arsenal and the Blues have experienced the most significant jump, with each team compensating for the five fewer scores that they've netted in open play with the same number from dead-ball chances.

Manchester United have recorded twice as many goals from set-pieces as they did in the first 11 matches the previous campaign ahead of Ruben Amorim took over, while Sunderland additionally are more successful at scoring than the fellow red-and-whites they superseded.

City don't seem to have got the trend about scoring more from set-pieces, since they've scored three less than last season, similar to Nottingham Forest, although this could be because of the tactical shift they're working to install.

Overall Patterns

Six teams – the Gunners, Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle, Spurs and the Hammers – are this season's top trend-setters by recording fewer goals from open-play and more from set-plays, while Manchester City are the sole team to defy the pattern up to now by doing the contrary.

It remains to be seen to watch if sides persist to place such emphasis on set-plays as matches continue or if they find again their general attacking flair and begin scoring more goals in open play as well.