🔗 Share this article

A key narrative of England's top flight season so far is the decline of scoring in open-play scenarios and the way teams have been scoring more from set-plays as an alternative.

Comparing goal sources to the initial 11 matches the prior season, we see 39 fewer goals in open play and an increase of 26 from team set-pieces and penalties, giving us 13 fewer overall.

Considering the broader view, efforts on goal teams are taking reveal a staggering 370 fewer in open play than this time last time out.

And despite the big increase in set-play finishes, we've actually seen just two more shots created from them outside of penalties, showing the proficiency clubs have been at discovering methods to net from set-pieces.

Goal Statistics Show the Tale

The 301 goals scored in 110 games up to now calculates at 2.74 goals each match, if maintained for the entire campaign might be the lowest for half a decade, from five seasons ago (2.69 per game).

However, only under 200 goals scored in open-play equates to 1.78 per fixture and is heading to be the least for 16 years, since 2009-10 (1.76 average).

2009-10 additionally represents the unique EPL season to see scoring more often from dead-balls without spot-kicks than the current rate of 0.77 per game (0.79).

What Clubs Are Most Responsible?

When it comes to goals scored from open-play, Wolves have seen by far the biggest decrease, netting just four in 11 matches, 10 less than this point last season.

Excluding Wolves, the Premier League's decline in open play goals is largely a London thing, with five out of the city's seven teams netting a minimum of five less scores from open-play than the previous year.

Honestly, that's largely down to them scoring numerous scores at the beginning of last season rather than them really struggling to score in open play the current term.

At the same time City have seen the biggest increase, with nearly all of their 23 goals so far originating in open-play.

Set-Play Proficiency

Looking at the promoted teams with those that were relegated they took the place of. Play-off champions the Black Cats have recorded three extra scores in open play than Southampton achieved in their opening 11 matches on their way to the drop the previous campaign.

Regarding goals scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties), Arsenal and the Blues have recorded the most significant jump, with the two clubs making up for the reduction of five scores that they've netted in open play with the same number from set-pieces.

United have recorded two times more goals from set-plays as they did in the first 11 matches the previous campaign prior to the manager took over, while Sunderland again have been more effective at netting than the club they replaced they replaced.

Man City don't seem to have got the trend about increasing scoring from set-plays, because they've recorded a reduction of three than last season, like the Reds, although that might be down to the tactical shift they're working to install.

General Tendencies

Six sides – the Gunners, the Blues, Fulham, the Magpies, Spurs and the Hammers – are this term's primary examples by recording fewer scores from open play and increased from set-plays, while City represent the sole team to defy the pattern up to now by performing the contrary.

It will be fascinating to see if clubs carry on to place such emphasis on set-pieces as the season goes on or if they regain their general attacking flair and start netting increased totals in open-play too.