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A major talking point of England's top flight season so far has been the drop of goals scored in open play and the way sides have been scoring more from set-plays as an alternative.

Comparing how goals have been scored to the first 11 games the prior season, we note a drop of 39 scored in open play and an increase of 26 from set-plays and spot-kicks, leading to 13 less altogether.

Considering the bigger picture, the number of shots sides are producing show a staggering drop of 370 in open-play than at this stage last time out.

Regardless of the notable jump in set-piece goals, records show just two more shots created from them outside of spot-kicks, indicating the efficiency sides have been at finding ways to net from dead-ball chances.

Goal Statistics Reveal the Tale

The 301 goals recorded in 110 matches so far calculates at 2.74 goals each match, if maintained for the entire campaign could be the smallest for since 2020-21, back in 2020-21 (2.69 average).

But just 196 scores coming in open-play equates to 1.78 per game and is heading to be the smallest for since 2009-10, back in 2009-10 (1.76 average).

The 2009-10 season is also the unique EPL season to see goals scored at a higher rate from non-penalty set-pieces than this season's rate of 0.77 per game (0.79).

What Clubs Are Most Responsible?

When it comes to scoring from open-play, Wolves have experienced by far the biggest decline, netting a mere four in 11 games, 10 fewer than this point last season.

Excluding Wolverhampton, the EPL's fall in open play goals is largely a trend among London clubs, with five out of the capital's seven sides scoring a minimum of five fewer goals from open-play than the previous year.

In fairness, this is primarily due to their scoring many scores at the early stages of the previous campaign as opposed to them having difficulty to convert in open-play the current term.

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

Set-Piece Success

Comparing newly promoted sides with the teams that went down they took the place of. Sunderland Sunderland have scored three more scores in open-play than the Saints did in their opening 11 matches on their way to relegation last season.

In terms of goals scored from set-pieces (aside from penalties), Arsenal and the Blues have seen the largest rise, with each team compensating for the five less scores that they've produced in open play with identical figures from dead-ball situations.

Man United have recorded twice as many scores from set-pieces as they achieved in matchday 11 last season before Ruben Amorim took over, while the Black Cats additionally are more effective at converting than the similar-colored team that went down.

City appear not to have received the message about increasing scoring from set-plays, because they've scored a reduction of three than the previous campaign, similar to Forest, though this could be because of the altered approach they're working to install.

League-Wide Trends

Six sides – Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle, Spurs and West Ham – are this season's top trend-setters by scoring fewer goals from open play and more from set-plays, while Manchester City represent the only side to go against the grain to date by achieving the exact opposite.

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