🔗 Share this article

A key narrative of England's top flight season so far is the drop of goals scored in open play and the way clubs are netting more from set-pieces as an alternative.

When we compare scoring methods to the initial 11 matches the prior season, we note a drop of 39 goals in open play and 26 more from team set-pieces and spot-kicks, giving us 13 fewer in total.

Considering overall statistics, the number of shots clubs are making reveal a staggering drop of 370 in open play than at this stage last time out.

And despite the notable jump in set-play finishes, we've actually seen just two more shots generated from these situations excluding spot-kicks, indicating the proficiency sides are at discovering methods to convert from dead-ball situations.

Scoring Rates Show a Story

Over 300 goals notched in 110 games up to now averages out at 2.74 goals per game, which if it continued for all 38 games might be the lowest for half a decade, back in 2020-21 (2.69 average).

Yet merely 196 goals coming in open-play averages out 1.78 per game and is on course to be the lowest for 16 seasons, since 2009-10 (1.76 average).

That campaign also marks the only Premier League campaign to experience scoring at a higher rate from non-penalty set-pieces than the current rate of 0.77 per game (0.79).

Which Sides Are Most Responsible?

Regarding goals scored from open-play, Wolves have recorded by far the biggest drop, scoring only four in their first 11 fixtures, 10 fewer than at this stage last season.

Outside of Wolves, England's top division's decline in open-play scoring is largely a London phenomenon, with five of the city's seven teams scoring at least five goals fewer from open play than last season.

In fairness, this is mainly because their scoring lots of scores at the early stages of last season instead of their genuine struggle to convert in open play the current term.

Conversely Man City have recorded the most significant jump, with nearly all of their 23 goals this season coming in open-play.

Set-Piece Success

We've compared clubs that came up with those that were relegated they replaced. Sunderland Sunderland have netted three more scores in open play than the Saints managed in matchday 11 on their way to the drop the previous campaign.

In terms of goals scored from set-plays (excluding spot-kicks), Arsenal and the Blues have experienced the largest rise, with both sides making up for the reduction of five goals that they've scored in open play with identical figures from set-pieces.

Man United have netted twice as many goals from set-plays as they achieved in matchday 11 the previous campaign prior to the manager took charge, while Sunderland once more are more effective at netting than the similar-colored team they superseded.

City seem unaware of the trend about netting additional goals from set-plays, as they've netted three fewer than last season, as have Forest, though this may result from the tactical shift they're working to install.

General Tendencies

Six teams – Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle, Tottenham and the Hammers – represent this term's primary examples by recording fewer scores from open-play and more from set-plays, while City stand as the sole team to go against the grain so far by achieving the complete reverse.

It will be interesting to observe if clubs continue to rely so heavily on set-plays as the campaign progresses or if they find again their all-round creativity and begin converting increased totals in open-play also.