Where Has the Excitement Gone? The Decline of the Goals from Open Play

A major talking point of England's top flight season so far has been the reduction of scoring in open-play scenarios and the way teams are finding goals increasingly from set-plays instead.

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

Considering overall statistics, the number of shots teams are taking show a remarkable 370 fewer in open play than at this stage last season.

And despite the significant rise in set-piece goals, we've actually seen a mere two extra shots created from them excluding penalties, indicating the efficiency teams have been at devising strategies to convert from dead-ball chances.

Goal Statistics Reveal an Interesting Narrative

Over 300 goals recorded in the first 110 fixtures so far averages out at 2.74 scores per fixture, if this persists for all 38 games might be the smallest for since 2020-21, back in 2020-21 (2.69 per game).

However, only under 200 goals coming in open play translates to 1.78 per game and is heading to be the lowest for since 2009-10, back in 2009-10 (1.76 average).

2009-10 is also the only Premier League season to experience goals scored more frequently from set-plays excluding penalties than the current rate of 0.77 per game (0.79 average).

What Clubs Account for This Change?

Regarding scoring from open play, Wolves have experienced the most significant decline, scoring just four in 11 matches, a reduction of 10 than this point the previous campaign.

Outside of Wolves, the EPL's drop in open play goals is very much a trend among London clubs, with five of the London's seven clubs netting at least five goals fewer from open play than the prior season.

In fairness, this is primarily due to them scoring numerous goals at the start of the previous campaign as opposed to them really struggling to find the net in open play this season.

At the same time Manchester City have experienced the most significant jump, with nearly all of the 23 they've scored so far arriving in open-play.

Set-Play Proficiency

We've compared the promoted teams with those that were relegated they replaced. Sunderland the Black Cats have scored an additional three goals in open-play than the Saints achieved in matchday 11 en route to relegation the previous campaign.

When it comes to goals scored from set-pieces (not counting penalties), Arsenal and Chelsea have experienced the most significant jump, with each team replacing the five less scores that they've scored in open-play with the same number from set-pieces.

Manchester United have netted double the number goals from set-plays as they did in the first 11 matches the previous campaign before the manager assumed control, while Sunderland once more prove more successful at converting than the similar-colored team that went down.

Manchester City appear not to have received the message about netting additional goals from set-plays, since they've scored three fewer than last season, similar to the Reds, even if this could be because of the altered approach they're working to install.

General Tendencies

Six teams – the Gunners, Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle, Spurs and West Ham – represent this term's top trend-setters by recording fewer goals from open play and more from set-plays, while Man City stand as the unique club to buck the trend up to now by performing the exact opposite.

It will be fascinating to observe if clubs carry on to place such emphasis on set-pieces as the season goes on or if they find again their all-round creativity and begin scoring increased totals in open play as well.