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One of the biggest stories of the Premier League this campaign is the decline of scoring in open-play scenarios and how sides are finding goals more from set-pieces as an alternative.

When we compare scoring methods to the initial 11 matches the prior season, there have been 39 fewer scored in open-play and 26 more from team set-pieces and spot-kicks, resulting in 13 fewer altogether.

Considering the broader view, the number of shots teams are taking have seen an incredible 370 fewer in open-play than this time last time out.

Regardless of the significant rise in set-play finishes, records show only two additional attempts generated from them outside of spot-kicks, indicating the efficiency sides have been at devising strategies to convert from dead-ball chances.

Goal Averages Reveal an Interesting Narrative

301 total goals scored in 110 matches so far works out at nearly 2.75 goals each match, if this persists for the whole season would be the least for half a decade, since 2020-21 (2.69 per game).

But just under 200 goals coming in open-play translates to 1.78 per game and is on course to be the lowest for 16 years, since 2009-10 (1.76 per game).

2009-10 is also the sole English top-flight season to see scoring at a higher rate from set-plays excluding penalties than this season's rate of 0.77 each match (0.79).

What Clubs Bear the Most Responsibility?

In terms of scoring from open-play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have seen the most significant drop, registering a mere four in 11 games, a reduction of 10 than at this stage last season.

Apart from Wolverhampton, the Premier League's fall in open-play scoring is predominantly a London thing, with five out of the capital's seven sides scoring at least five less scores from open-play than the prior season.

In fairness, that's largely down to them netting lots of scores at the beginning of last season as opposed to them having difficulty to convert in open-play this campaign.

Meanwhile Manchester City have seen the largest rise, with all but one of their 23 scores to date arriving in open play.

Set-Piece Success

Looking at the promoted teams with the teams that went down they replaced. Sunderland the Black Cats have netted three extra goals in open-play than Southampton managed in their opening 11 matches en route to demotion the previous campaign.

When it comes to scoring from dead-ball situations (aside from spot-kicks), the Gunners and Chelsea have recorded the biggest increase, with both sides making up for the five less goals that they've produced in open play with identical figures from dead-ball chances.

Manchester United have netted twice as many goals from set-plays as they achieved in the 11 games last season ahead of their coach assumed control, while the Black Cats additionally are more successful at converting than the similar-colored team they replaced.

City don't seem to have got the memo about increasing scoring from set-plays, as they've recorded three less than the previous campaign, like the Reds, although this could be because of the tactical shift they've attempted to adopt.

General Tendencies

Six sides – Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, the Magpies, Spurs and the Hammers – represent this term's leading trend-followers by netting less goals from open play and more from set-plays, while Manchester City stand as the unique club to go against the grain to date by performing the contrary.

It will be fascinating to see if teams carry on to rely so heavily on set-plays as the campaign progresses or if they regain their overall inventiveness and commence converting additional scores in open play also.