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One of the biggest stories of the EPL this campaign has been the decline of scoring in open play and how clubs are netting increasingly from set-plays as an alternative.

When we compare goal sources to matchday 11 the prior season, we note a drop of 39 scored in open-play and 26 more from set-plays and penalties, resulting in 13 less overall.

Examining the broader view, the number of shots clubs are making have seen a staggering 370 fewer in open play than this time last season.

Regardless of the notable jump in set-play finishes, there have actually been a mere two extra shots created from them excluding penalties, indicating the efficiency clubs have been at finding ways to convert from set-pieces.

Scoring Rates Tell an Interesting Narrative

Over 300 goals notched in 110 games to date averages out at 2.74 goals per fixture, which if it continued for the entire campaign could be the lowest for since 2020-21, from five seasons ago (2.69).

But just 196 goals scored in open-play averages out 1.78 each match and is heading to be the least for since 2009-10, from 16 years ago (1.76).

2009-10 is also the sole English top-flight season to see goals scored at a higher rate from non-penalty set-pieces than this campaign's frequency of 0.77 each match (0.79 per game).

Which Teams Account for This Change?

Regarding goals scored from open play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have experienced by far the biggest decrease, scoring a mere four in their first 11 fixtures, a reduction of 10 than this point last season.

Apart from Wolverhampton, the Premier League's fall in open play goals is largely a trend among London clubs, with five out of the capital's seven sides scoring five or more less scores from open play than the previous year.

To be fair, this is primarily due to them netting numerous scores at the beginning of the previous campaign rather than their genuine struggle to find the net in open-play this season.

Conversely Manchester City have recorded the most significant jump, with all but one of the 23 they've scored so far coming in open-play.

Set-Play Proficiency

We've compared newly promoted sides with the relegated sides they took the place of. Play-off winners the Black Cats have recorded an additional three goals in open play than the Saints managed in their first 11 games en route to the drop last season.

When it comes to goals scored from set-plays (aside from penalties), Arsenal and the Blues have seen the biggest increase, with each team compensating for the reduction of five goals that they've scored in open play with an equal amount from dead-ball chances.

Manchester United have netted two times more scores from set-plays as they achieved in matchday 11 the previous campaign before Ruben Amorim took charge, while Sunderland again are better at netting than the fellow red-and-whites that went down.

City don't seem to have got the trend about increasing scoring from set-pieces, because they've netted a reduction of three than the previous campaign, like the Reds, although this may result from the altered approach they have tried to implement.

Overall Patterns

Six sides – Arsenal, the Blues, Fulham, Newcastle, Spurs and West Ham – represent the current campaign's primary examples by scoring fewer goals from open play and more from set-plays, while City stand as the unique club to go against the grain up to now by doing the contrary.

It will be fascinating to watch if teams carry on to rely so heavily on set-plays as the season goes on or if they regain their general attacking flair and begin converting additional scores in open play as well.