Where Has the Excitement Gone? This Decline of the Goal Scoring
One of the biggest stories of England's top flight season so far has been the decline of scoring in open play and how teams have been scoring more from set-plays as an alternative.
When we compare scoring methods to the initial 11 matches last season, we see a drop of 39 scored in open-play and 26 more from set-plays and penalties, resulting in 13 fewer in total.
If we look at the bigger picture, the number of shots sides are producing have seen a staggering 370 fewer in open play than this time last season.
Even with the notable jump in set-piece goals, records show just two more attempts produced from them outside of penalties, indicating the efficiency sides have been at finding ways to convert from dead-ball chances.
Goal Averages Show an Interesting Narrative
301 total goals recorded in 110 matches to date works out at nearly 2.75 goals each match, if maintained for all 38 games would be the lowest for five years, back in 2020-21 (2.69 average).
Yet merely 196 scores coming in open-play equates to 1.78 per fixture and is on course to be the smallest for 16 seasons, from 16 years ago (1.76 average).
The 2009-10 season additionally represents the only Premier League campaign to see goals scored at a higher rate from set-plays excluding penalties than this campaign's frequency of 0.77 per game (0.79 per game).
Which Teams Are Most Responsible?
When it comes to scoring from open play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have seen the most significant decrease, registering a mere four in 11 matches, a reduction of 10 than this point the previous campaign.
Outside of Wolverhampton, England's top division's drop in open-play scoring is predominantly a London phenomenon, with half of the capital's seven sides scoring a minimum of five goals fewer from open play than the previous year.
To be fair, this is primarily due to their scoring lots of goals at the beginning of last season rather than them really struggling to score in open-play this season.
At the same time Man City have seen the largest rise, with almost every one of the 23 they've scored this season originating in open play.
Set-Piece Success
Looking at the promoted teams with those that were relegated they replaced. Play-off champions the Black Cats have netted three more scores in open play than Southampton did in their opening 11 matches leading to relegation last season.
In terms of goals scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties), the Gunners and Chelsea have experienced the most significant jump, with each team making up for the reduction of five scores that they've produced in open play with the same number from dead-ball situations.
Manchester United have recorded two times more scores from set-plays as they achieved in the 11 games the previous campaign before the manager took over, while Sunderland once more have been more successful at netting than the fellow red-and-whites they superseded.
Manchester City seem unaware of the memo about increasing scoring from set-plays, as they've scored three less than last season, as have the Reds, even if that might be down to the tactical shift they're working to install.
League-Wide Trends
Six sides – the Gunners, the Blues, the Cottagers, the Magpies, Tottenham and the Hammers – are this term's top trend-setters by netting less goals from open play and additional from set-pieces, while City are the only side to go against the grain to date by performing the complete reverse.
It will be fascinating to see if teams continue to place such emphasis on set-pieces as the season goes on or if they regain their general attacking flair and begin converting more goals in open play too.
