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One of the biggest stories of the Premier League this campaign concerns the reduction of goals scored in open play and how clubs are netting more from set-pieces as an alternative.

When we compare goal sources to matchday 11 the prior season, we see 39 fewer goals in open play and an increase of 26 from set-plays and penalties, resulting in 13 less altogether.

Examining overall statistics, shot attempts sides are producing reveal a staggering 370 fewer in open play than at this stage last time out.

And despite the notable jump in dead-ball scores, we've actually seen a mere two extra attempts created from these situations excluding spot-kicks, showing how effective teams are at finding ways to score from dead-ball chances.

Goal Averages Tell the Tale

301 total goals recorded in 110 games to date calculates at 2.74 scores each match, which if it continued for all 38 games could be the least for half a decade, back in 2020-21 (2.69 per game).

But just 196 goals coming in open-play averages out 1.78 per fixture and is heading to be the smallest for 16 years, since 2009-10 (1.76).

2009-10 additionally represents the only Premier League season to experience scoring more frequently from dead-balls without spot-kicks than the current rate of 0.77 per fixture (0.79 per game).

Which Sides Bear the Most Responsibility?

Regarding goals scored from open-play, Wolves have seen the most significant decline, scoring only four in their first 11 fixtures, a reduction of 10 than this point last season.

Outside of Wolves, the EPL's decline in open play goals is largely a trend among London clubs, with half of the city's seven teams scoring five or more fewer goals from open-play than the prior season.

To be fair, that's largely down to their scoring numerous scores at the beginning of last season instead of them really struggling to find the net in open play the current term.

Meanwhile Manchester City have seen the most significant jump, 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 the teams that went down they replaced. Sunderland Sunderland have netted an additional three scores in open-play than Southampton did in matchday 11 leading to relegation the previous campaign.

In terms of goals scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties), the Gunners and the Blues have experienced the most significant jump, with the two clubs replacing the five less goals that they've produced in open play with the same number from dead-ball situations.

United have scored two times more goals from set-plays as they managed in the first 11 matches last season before their coach took over, while Sunderland again prove better at converting than the similar-colored team that went down.

City seem unaware of the memo about netting additional goals from set-pieces, as they've recorded three less than last season, like the Reds, even if this could be because of the altered approach they're working to install.

League-Wide Trends

Six clubs – Arsenal, the Blues, Fulham, the Magpies, Tottenham and West Ham – have been the current campaign's leading trend-followers by netting less goals from open-play and additional from set-plays, while Man City represent the only side to defy the pattern to date by doing the contrary.

It will be interesting to watch if clubs carry on to depend greatly on set-pieces as matches continue or if they rediscover their general attacking flair and commence netting additional scores in open play also.