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One of the biggest stories of the Premier League this campaign is the decline of goals scored in open-play scenarios and how teams are netting more from dead-ball situations as an alternative.

Comparing how goals have been scored to the initial 11 matches last season, we see a drop of 39 scored in open-play and 26 more from team set-pieces and spot-kicks, giving us 13 less altogether.

If we look at the bigger picture, the number of shots clubs are making show an incredible 370 fewer in open play than this time last time out.

Regardless of the big increase in dead-ball scores, we've actually seen only two additional attempts produced from these situations excluding spot-kicks, demonstrating how effective clubs are at discovering methods to net from dead-ball situations.

Goal Statistics Show an Interesting Narrative

301 total goals recorded in 110 games to date calculates at 2.74 scores per game, which if it continued for the entire campaign would be the lowest for since 2020-21, back in 2020-21 (2.69 average).

But just under 200 goals scored in open-play translates to 1.78 per game 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 goals scored at a higher rate from non-penalty set-pieces than the current rate of 0.77 each match (0.79 per game).

Which Sides Are Most Responsible?

Regarding scoring from open play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have seen by far the biggest decrease, netting only four in their first 11 fixtures, 10 fewer than at this stage the previous campaign.

Excluding Wolverhampton, England's top division's fall in goals from open play is largely a trend among London clubs, with half of the capital's seven sides recording five or more goals fewer from open-play than the prior season.

Honestly, this is primarily due to their scoring numerous scores at the beginning of the previous campaign as opposed to them really struggling to convert in open play the current term.

Meanwhile Man City have experienced the largest rise, with all but one of their 23 goals to date originating in open-play.

Set-Play Proficiency

Comparing the promoted teams with those that were relegated they took the place of. Sunderland the Black Cats have netted three more goals in open-play than Southampton managed in matchday 11 on their way to the drop the previous campaign.

When it comes to goals scored from dead-ball situations (not counting spot-kicks), Arsenal 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 set-pieces.

Manchester United have netted double the number scores from set-plays as they managed in the 11 games the previous campaign prior to their coach took charge, while Sunderland again prove better at netting than the fellow red-and-whites they replaced.

Manchester City appear not to have received the message about increasing scoring from set-plays, because they've recorded a reduction of three than last season, similar to Nottingham Forest, even if that might be down to the tactical shift they've attempted to adopt.

General Tendencies

Six sides – the Gunners, Chelsea, Fulham, the Magpies, Tottenham and West Ham – are this season's top trend-setters by netting less scores from open play and more from set-plays, while Manchester City stand as the unique club to defy the pattern to date by doing the complete reverse.

It will be interesting to watch if teams carry on to rely so heavily on set-plays as the season goes on or if they rediscover their all-round creativity and begin converting more goals in open-play as well.