A key narrative of the EPL this campaign concerns the drop of goals scored in open-play scenarios and the way teams have been scoring increasingly from set-pieces as an alternative.
Looking at goal sources to the first 11 games last season, there have been 39 fewer scored in open play and an increase of 26 from team set-pieces and penalties, resulting in 13 less in total.
Examining the bigger picture, shot attempts clubs are making reveal an incredible 370 fewer in open play than at this stage last season.
And despite the notable jump in set-piece goals, there have actually been a mere two extra shots created from these situations outside of penalties, indicating the proficiency clubs are at discovering methods to net from dead-ball situations.
Over 300 goals recorded in the first 110 fixtures up to now works out at 2.74 goals each match, which if it continued for all 38 games would be the least for since 2020-21, since 2020-21 (2.69 average).
However, only 196 goals scored in open-play translates to 1.78 each match and is heading to be the lowest for since 2009-10, back in 2009-10 (1.76 per game).
The 2009-10 season also marks the unique EPL season to see scoring at a higher rate from non-penalty set-pieces than the current rate of 0.77 each match (0.79 per game).
When it comes to scoring from open play, Wolves have seen the most significant drop, registering just four in 11 matches, 10 less than this point the previous campaign.
Apart from Wolves, England's top division's drop in open-play scoring is largely a London phenomenon, with five out of the London's seven clubs recording a minimum of five less scores from open play than the previous year.
In fairness, this is mainly because them netting lots of goals at the start of the previous campaign as opposed to their genuine struggle to score in open-play this season.
Conversely Manchester City have recorded the largest rise, with almost every one of their 23 goals so far originating in open-play.
Comparing the promoted teams with the teams that went down they replaced. Play-off winners the Black Cats have scored an additional three goals in open play than the Saints managed in matchday 11 on their way to the drop the previous campaign.
In terms of scoring from set-pieces (not counting penalties), Arsenal and Chelsea have recorded the most significant jump, with the two clubs replacing the reduction of five goals that they've scored in open play with identical figures from set-pieces.
Manchester United have recorded two times more scores from set-pieces as they achieved in matchday 11 last season ahead of their coach assumed control, while the Black Cats again are better at converting than the similar-colored team they superseded.
Manchester City appear not to have received the trend about netting additional goals from set-plays, because they've netted three less than the previous campaign, like Forest, though this could be because of the change in style they have tried to implement.
Six sides – Arsenal, Chelsea, the Cottagers, Newcastle, Tottenham and the Hammers – are this term's primary examples by scoring fewer goals from open-play and more from set-plays, while City represent the sole team to buck the trend to date by performing the contrary.
It will be fascinating to see if clubs continue to place such emphasis on set-plays as matches continue or if they find again their all-round creativity and start converting additional scores in open-play as well.
Elara is a seasoned writer and digital storyteller with a passion for exploring diverse literary genres and empowering others through words.
