🔗 Share this article

A major talking point of the EPL season so far concerns the decline of scoring in open-play scenarios and the way teams are finding goals increasingly from set-plays instead.

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

Examining overall statistics, the number of shots sides are producing reveal a remarkable drop of 370 in open-play than at this stage last season.

Even with the significant rise in set-play finishes, records show just two more attempts created from them outside of penalties, indicating how effective clubs have been at discovering methods to convert from dead-ball situations.

Goal Statistics Show a Story

Over 300 goals scored in the first 110 fixtures so far works out at nearly 2.75 goals each match, if this persists for the entire campaign would be the least for since 2020-21, since 2020-21 (2.69).

However, only 196 scores scored in open play translates to 1.78 per game and is heading to be the lowest for 16 seasons, since 2009-10 (1.76 average).

That campaign also marks the unique EPL season to witness goals scored more often from non-penalty set-pieces than the current rate of 0.77 per fixture (0.79).

Which Teams Account for This Change?

Regarding goals scored from open play, Wolves have seen the most significant decrease, scoring only four in 11 matches, 10 fewer than this point the previous campaign.

Outside of Wolves, the EPL's drop in goals from open play is predominantly a London phenomenon, with five of the London's seven clubs scoring five or more less scores from open-play than the prior season.

In fairness, this is primarily due to their scoring numerous goals at the start of the previous campaign rather than them having difficulty to convert in open play this season.

Conversely City have experienced the largest rise, with all but one of the 23 they've scored so far arriving in open-play.

Set-Piece Success

Comparing the promoted teams with the relegated sides they replaced. Play-off champions the Black Cats have recorded three more goals in open play than the Saints managed in their opening 11 matches en route to demotion last season.

In terms of goals scored from set-pieces (excluding spot-kicks), Arsenal and Chelsea have seen the most significant jump, with both sides compensating for the five less scores that they've produced in open play with identical figures from dead-ball chances.

Man United have recorded twice as many scores from set-plays as they did in matchday 11 the previous campaign prior to their coach took over, while Sunderland again prove better at converting than the fellow red-and-whites they superseded.

Man City seem unaware of the trend about netting additional goals from set-pieces, because they've scored a reduction of three than the previous campaign, similar to Nottingham Forest, even if that might be down to the altered approach they're working to install.

Overall Patterns

Six sides – the Gunners, Chelsea, the Cottagers, Newcastle, Spurs and the Hammers – are this season's top trend-setters by scoring fewer scores from open-play and increased from set-plays, while City represent the unique club to defy the pattern up to now by doing the contrary.

It will be interesting to observe if sides continue to place such emphasis on set-pieces as the season goes on or if they rediscover their general attacking flair and commence scoring increased totals in open play also.