🔗 Share this article

One of the biggest stories of the EPL this campaign is the decline of goals scored in open play and the way clubs are netting more from set-pieces instead.

Looking at goal sources to the first 11 games the prior season, we see 39 fewer goals in open-play and 26 more from set-plays and spot-kicks, resulting in 13 less altogether.

Considering the broader view, shot attempts clubs are making show an incredible 370 fewer in open-play than this time previously.

Even with the notable jump in dead-ball scores, there have actually been only two additional shots created from these situations excluding penalties, indicating the efficiency sides are at finding ways to score from set-pieces.

Goal Averages Reveal an Interesting Narrative

Over 300 goals notched in 110 matches to date averages out at 2.74 goals per game, which if it continued for the whole season would be the smallest for five years, back in 2020-21 (2.69 average).

But just under 200 goals coming in open play averages out 1.78 per game and is tracking to be the least for 16 years, since 2009-10 (1.76 average).

That campaign is also the sole English top-flight campaign to experience scoring at a higher rate from set-plays excluding penalties than the current rate of 0.77 each match (0.79).

Which Sides Account for This Change?

When it comes to scoring from open play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have recorded the largest decline, registering just four in 11 matches, a reduction of 10 than this point last season.

Apart from Wolves, the EPL's drop in open play goals is very much a London phenomenon, with half of the London's seven clubs recording at least five fewer goals from open play than the previous year.

To be fair, this is mainly because them netting numerous scores at the early stages of last season as opposed to them really struggling to convert in open play this season.

Meanwhile City have seen the biggest increase, with all but one of their 23 scores to date originating in open play.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Comparing clubs that came up with the relegated sides they took the place of. Play-off winners Sunderland have netted three more scores in open-play than the Saints did in matchday 11 en route to relegation last season.

In terms of goals scored from set-plays (excluding penalties), the Gunners and the Blues have recorded the biggest increase, with the two clubs compensating for the reduction of five scores that they've scored in open-play with identical figures from set-pieces.

Manchester United have netted two times more scores from set-pieces as they achieved in matchday 11 last season prior to the manager assumed control, while the Black Cats again are more successful at netting than the fellow red-and-whites that went down.

Manchester City appear not to have received the memo about netting additional goals from set-plays, because they've recorded a reduction of three than the previous campaign, like Nottingham Forest, even if that might be down to the change in style they have tried to implement.

General Tendencies

Six clubs – Arsenal, the Blues, Fulham, the Magpies, Tottenham and West Ham – have been this season's leading trend-followers by scoring fewer goals from open-play and additional from set-plays, while Man City are the sole team to go against the grain to date by achieving the complete reverse.

It will be interesting to see if teams persist to rely so heavily on set-pieces as matches continue or if they find again their overall inventiveness and commence scoring increased totals in open play too.