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One of the biggest stories of England's top flight season so far has been the decline of goals scored in open-play scenarios and how teams are finding goals increasingly from set-plays instead.

When we compare scoring methods to the first 11 games last season, we see a drop of 39 scored in open play and an increase of 26 from set-plays and spot-kicks, resulting in 13 less overall.

If we look at the broader view, the number of shots teams are taking show a staggering 370 fewer in open-play than this time previously.

Even with the notable jump in set-piece goals, we've actually seen only two additional shots created from these situations excluding penalties, showing how effective sides have been at devising strategies to net from set-pieces.

Goal Statistics Show an Interesting Narrative

Over 300 goals notched in 110 matches to date averages out at nearly 2.75 goals each match, which if it continued for the entire campaign could be the least for since 2020-21, from five seasons ago (2.69 average).

Yet merely 196 scores coming in open-play equates to 1.78 each match and is tracking to be the lowest for 16 seasons, back in 2009-10 (1.76 per game).

2009-10 is also the sole English top-flight campaign to experience scoring at a higher rate from non-penalty set-pieces than this campaign's frequency of 0.77 each match (0.79 per game).

Which Sides Bear the Most Responsibility?

Regarding scoring from open-play, Wolves have seen by far the biggest decline, netting just four in 11 matches, 10 fewer than this point the previous campaign.

Apart from Wolves, England's top division's fall in open-play scoring is largely a trend among London clubs, with five of the city's seven teams recording five or more fewer goals from open play than the prior season.

In fairness, this is primarily due to them netting many scores at the beginning of last season rather than their genuine struggle to convert in open-play this campaign.

Meanwhile Man City have seen the largest rise, with all but one of their 23 goals so far coming in open play.

Set-Play Proficiency

We've compared the promoted teams with those that were relegated that they superseded. Play-off champions the Black Cats have recorded an additional three goals in open-play than the Saints managed in their first 11 games on their way to the drop last season.

Regarding scoring from set-plays (not counting penalties), Arsenal and the Blues have recorded the biggest increase, with both sides making up for the reduction of five goals that they've scored in open play with the same number from dead-ball chances.

United have scored two times more scores from set-pieces as they did in the first 11 matches the previous campaign prior to their coach assumed control, while Sunderland once more have been more successful at converting than the similar-colored team they superseded.

City seem unaware of the message about scoring more from set-pieces, because they've netted three less than last season, like Forest, though this could be because of the altered approach they have tried to implement.

General Tendencies

Six clubs – the Gunners, Chelsea, the Cottagers, the Magpies, Spurs and the Hammers – are the current campaign's top trend-setters by netting less scores from open-play and increased from set-pieces, while City stand as the unique club to go against the grain so far by performing the exact opposite.

It remains to be seen to see if clubs continue to depend greatly on set-plays as matches continue or if they rediscover their overall inventiveness and begin netting additional scores in open-play as well.