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A key narrative of the Premier League this campaign is the decline of goals scored in open play and the way sides are finding goals increasingly from set-pieces as an alternative.

When we compare scoring methods to the first 11 games the prior season, we note a drop of 39 scored in open-play and an increase of 26 from set-plays and spot-kicks, leading to 13 less altogether.

Examining the bigger picture, the number of shots sides are producing have seen a remarkable 370 fewer in open play than this time previously.

Regardless of the big increase in dead-ball scores, there have actually been just two more shots created from them outside of spot-kicks, showing the efficiency clubs have been at devising strategies to net from dead-ball situations.

Goal Statistics Reveal the Tale

301 total goals notched in 110 matches so far averages out at 2.74 scores per game, if maintained for all 38 games could be the least for since 2020-21, back in 2020-21 (2.69 average).

However, only 196 goals coming in open play translates to 1.78 per game and is heading to be the least for 16 seasons, since 2009-10 (1.76 per game).

That campaign is also the only Premier League season to experience scoring at a higher rate from dead-balls without spot-kicks than this campaign's frequency of 0.77 each match (0.79 average).

Which Sides Bear the Most Responsibility?

Regarding goals scored from open play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have seen the largest decline, netting only four in their first 11 fixtures, a reduction of 10 than this point last season.

Outside of Wolverhampton, England's top division's decline in open-play scoring is predominantly a London thing, with five out of the capital's seven sides scoring at least five goals fewer from open-play than the previous year.

To be fair, that's largely down to them netting lots of scores at the start of the previous campaign as opposed to their genuine struggle to find the net in open-play this season.

Meanwhile Manchester City have seen the most significant jump, with all but one of their 23 scores to date coming in open-play.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Comparing newly promoted sides with the relegated sides that they superseded. Play-off winners the Black Cats have netted three more scores in open play than Southampton managed in their opening 11 matches leading to demotion last season.

When it comes to scoring from set-pieces (excluding penalties), the Gunners and the Blues have experienced the biggest increase, with both sides making up for the reduction of five goals that they've produced in open play with the same number from dead-ball situations.

Manchester United have netted two times more goals from set-plays as they did in the 11 games the previous campaign ahead of the manager took over, while the Black Cats additionally have been more effective at netting than the club they replaced they superseded.

Manchester City seem unaware of the memo about scoring more from set-pieces, since they've recorded a reduction of three than last season, similar to the Reds, although this could be because of the change in style they're working to install.

General Tendencies

Six clubs – the Gunners, the Blues, Fulham, Newcastle, Tottenham and the Hammers – have been this term's leading trend-followers by scoring fewer scores from open play and additional from set-pieces, while City stand as the unique club to go against the grain so far by achieving the contrary.

It remains to be seen to observe if clubs continue to place such emphasis on set-pieces as matches continue or if they rediscover their general attacking flair and begin converting additional scores in open play as well.