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A key narrative of England's top flight season so far concerns the reduction of scoring in open-play scenarios and the way clubs are finding goals increasingly from set-pieces as an alternative.

When we compare how goals have been scored to the initial 11 matches last season, we see a drop of 39 goals in open-play and 26 more from set-plays and penalties, leading to 13 less altogether.

Considering the bigger picture, shot attempts clubs are making have seen an incredible drop of 370 in open play than this time last time out.

Even with the notable jump in set-play finishes, we've actually seen just two more attempts created from them outside of penalties, showing the efficiency sides are at finding ways to convert from set-pieces.

Scoring Rates Show the Tale

Over 300 goals notched in 110 matches so far averages out at 2.74 scores per fixture, if this persists for all 38 games could be the least for since 2020-21, back in 2020-21 (2.69 average).

However, only 196 scores coming in open-play translates to 1.78 each match and is heading to be the lowest for 16 years, from 16 years ago (1.76 average).

That campaign additionally represents the sole English top-flight campaign to experience scoring at a higher rate from set-plays excluding penalties than this season's rate of 0.77 per fixture (0.79).

Which Teams Bear the Most Responsibility?

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

Apart from Wolves, the EPL's fall in open play goals is largely a trend among London clubs, with five out of the London's seven clubs scoring at least five less scores from open play than last season.

In fairness, that's largely down to them netting lots of scores at the start of the previous campaign rather than them having difficulty to score in open-play this campaign.

Conversely Man City have recorded the biggest increase, with all but one of their 23 goals to date arriving in open play.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Looking at newly promoted sides with the teams that went down they replaced. Play-off champions Sunderland have recorded three more scores in open-play than the Saints managed in their opening 11 matches leading to relegation last season.

In terms of goals scored from set-plays (excluding spot-kicks), the Gunners and the Blues have recorded the most significant jump, with both sides replacing the reduction of five goals that they've netted in open play with the same number from set-pieces.

Manchester United have scored two times more goals from set-plays as they did in the first 11 matches last season prior to their coach took charge, while the Black Cats additionally have been better at netting than the club they replaced that went down.

Man City appear not to have received the trend about netting additional goals from set-pieces, because they've scored a reduction of three than last season, like the Reds, though this could be because of the tactical shift they have tried to implement.

League-Wide Trends

Six sides – the Gunners, the Blues, the Cottagers, the Magpies, Spurs and West Ham – have been this term's leading trend-followers by scoring fewer goals from open-play and additional from set-pieces, while Man City stand as the unique club to defy the pattern so far by doing the exact opposite.

It will be fascinating to observe if clubs continue to depend greatly on set-plays as the campaign progresses or if they regain their overall inventiveness and begin converting additional scores in open play also.