Are You Not Being Entertained? The Decline of the Goal Scoring
A major talking point of the Premier League this campaign is the decline of goals scored in open-play scenarios and how clubs are finding goals more from set-pieces as an alternative.
Looking at how goals have been scored 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, giving us 13 less in total.
Considering overall statistics, shot attempts teams are taking reveal an incredible drop of 370 in open-play than this time previously.
Even with the notable jump in set-piece goals, there have actually been only two additional attempts generated from these situations outside of penalties, demonstrating the proficiency sides have been at devising strategies to convert from set-pieces.
Goal Averages Show an Interesting Narrative
Over 300 goals recorded in 110 matches so far averages out at 2.74 scores per fixture, if this persists for the entire campaign might be the lowest for since 2020-21, back in 2020-21 (2.69 per game).
Yet merely 196 goals scored in open-play equates to 1.78 per game and is heading to be the least for since 2009-10, since 2009-10 (1.76 average).
The 2009-10 season is also the sole English top-flight campaign to experience scoring more frequently from non-penalty set-pieces than the current rate of 0.77 each match (0.79 per game).
Which Sides Account for This Change?
Regarding scoring from open-play, Wolves have recorded the most significant drop, netting just four in 11 matches, 10 fewer than this point last season.
Outside of Wolverhampton, the Premier League's fall in open-play scoring is predominantly a trend among London clubs, with five of the capital's seven sides netting a minimum of five goals fewer from open-play than last season.
In fairness, that's largely down to their scoring numerous scores at the beginning of last season rather than their genuine struggle to find the net in open-play this season.
Conversely Man City have experienced the most significant jump, with almost every one of their 23 scores to date arriving in open-play.
Set-Play Proficiency
Looking at clubs that came up with the teams that went down they took the place of. Sunderland Sunderland have netted three extra goals in open-play than Southampton did in matchday 11 on their way to demotion the previous campaign.
When it comes to goals scored from dead-ball situations (aside from spot-kicks), the Gunners and Chelsea have experienced the largest rise, with the two clubs making up for the five less goals that they've scored in open-play with an equal amount from dead-ball situations.
Man United have netted double the number goals from set-plays as they achieved in matchday 11 the previous campaign before the manager assumed control, while Sunderland once more have been better at netting than the similar-colored team they replaced.
City don't seem to have got the trend about increasing scoring from set-plays, because they've netted a reduction of three than the previous campaign, like the Reds, although this could be because of the tactical shift they've attempted to adopt.
Overall Patterns
Six teams – the Gunners, the Blues, Fulham, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham – have been the current campaign's top trend-setters by netting less goals from open play and increased from set-plays, while City are the sole team to go against the grain so far by achieving the complete reverse.
It will be fascinating to see if clubs persist to rely so heavily on set-plays as matches continue or if they regain their general attacking flair and start converting additional scores in open-play too.