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One of the biggest stories of England's top flight season so far concerns the drop of goals scored in open-play scenarios and how teams are finding goals more from set-plays as an alternative.

When we compare scoring methods to the first 11 games the prior season, there have been a drop of 39 scored in open-play and an increase of 26 from team set-pieces and spot-kicks, leading to 13 less altogether.

If we look at overall statistics, shot attempts sides are producing show an incredible 370 fewer in open-play than at this stage previously.

Even with the significant rise in set-play finishes, we've actually seen only two additional shots created from these situations excluding penalties, demonstrating the efficiency teams are at discovering methods to net from set-pieces.

Goal Averages Show an Interesting Narrative

301 total goals scored in 110 matches to date works out at 2.74 scores each match, if maintained for all 38 games might be the smallest for since 2020-21, back in 2020-21 (2.69 per game).

However, only 196 goals scored in open play translates to 1.78 per game and is on course to be the least for 16 seasons, back in 2009-10 (1.76).

2009-10 additionally represents the sole English top-flight season to see goals scored more often from dead-balls without spot-kicks than this season's rate of 0.77 each match (0.79 average).

What Clubs Are Most Responsible?

Regarding goals scored from open-play, Wolves have experienced by far the biggest decrease, registering just four in 11 matches, 10 less than this point the previous campaign.

Outside of Wolves, the EPL's drop in open play goals is predominantly a London phenomenon, with five of the London's seven clubs netting at least five goals fewer from open play than the prior season.

To be fair, this is mainly because them scoring many scores at the early stages of last season rather than their genuine struggle to score in open-play this campaign.

At the same time City have seen the most significant jump, with nearly all of their 23 goals so far coming in open play.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Comparing clubs that came up with the relegated sides that they superseded. Play-off winners the Black Cats have scored three extra goals in open play than the Saints did in their first 11 games on their way to the drop last season.

Regarding goals scored from dead-ball situations (not counting spot-kicks), Arsenal and Chelsea have experienced the biggest increase, with each team making up for the five less goals that they've netted in open-play with an equal amount from dead-ball chances.

Manchester United have netted two times more scores from set-plays as they did in the first 11 matches the previous campaign before their coach took over, while Sunderland additionally prove more successful at scoring than the similar-colored team that went down.

Man City don't seem to have got the trend about netting additional goals from set-plays, because they've scored three less than last season, similar to Nottingham Forest, though this could be because of the tactical shift they've attempted to adopt.

General Tendencies

Six teams – the Gunners, Chelsea, Fulham, the Magpies, Spurs and the Hammers – represent this season's primary examples by recording fewer goals from open-play and additional from set-plays, while Manchester City are the sole team to buck the trend so far by achieving the contrary.

It will be fascinating to watch if sides continue to depend greatly on set-plays as the campaign progresses or if they find again their all-round creativity and start netting increased totals in open play also.