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A key narrative of the EPL this campaign concerns the decline of goals scored in open-play scenarios and the way sides are finding goals more from set-plays as an alternative.

When we compare goal sources to the first 11 games last season, we see 39 fewer scored in open play and an increase of 26 from set-plays and penalties, leading to 13 fewer overall.

Considering overall statistics, shot attempts teams are taking have seen a remarkable drop of 370 in open play than this time previously.

Even with the significant rise in set-piece goals, records show a mere two extra attempts generated from them excluding spot-kicks, indicating the efficiency sides have been at devising strategies to convert from dead-ball situations.

Goal Averages Show a Story

Over 300 goals recorded in the first 110 fixtures up to now calculates at 2.74 goals each match, which if it continued for the whole season might be the smallest for five years, from five seasons ago (2.69).

But just under 200 goals coming in open play averages out 1.78 per fixture and is heading to be the least for 16 years, since 2009-10 (1.76).

The 2009-10 season is also the unique EPL campaign to witness goals scored more often from dead-balls without spot-kicks than the current rate of 0.77 per fixture (0.79 per game).

Which Teams Bear the Most Responsibility?

Regarding goals scored from open-play, Wolves have experienced the most significant drop, netting only four in 11 games, 10 less than at this stage last season.

Excluding Wolverhampton, England's top division's decline in open-play scoring is predominantly a London thing, with five of the city's seven teams netting at least five goals fewer from open play than the prior season.

To be fair, this is mainly because them netting many goals at the early stages of last season instead of them really struggling to convert in open play the current term.

Conversely Manchester City have seen the most significant jump, with all but one of their 23 scores so far coming in open-play.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Comparing clubs that came up with the relegated sides they took the place of. Play-off champions Sunderland have recorded three extra goals in open-play than the Saints managed in their first 11 games leading to demotion the previous campaign.

In terms of scoring from dead-ball situations (aside from penalties), the Gunners and Chelsea have seen the largest rise, with the two clubs making up for the five fewer scores that they've netted in open play with identical figures from dead-ball situations.

Man United have scored two times more goals from set-plays as they achieved in matchday 11 last season before their coach took over, while Sunderland again have been better at scoring than the similar-colored team they replaced.

Manchester City appear not to have received the trend about scoring more from set-pieces, as they've recorded a reduction of three than last season, similar to the Reds, although this may result from the tactical shift they're working to install.

Overall Patterns

Six sides – the Gunners, Chelsea, the Cottagers, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham – represent the current campaign's primary examples by netting less goals from open play and additional from set-pieces, while Manchester City are the only side to buck the trend to date by doing the contrary.

It remains to be seen to see if clubs persist to rely so heavily on set-plays as matches continue or if they regain their overall inventiveness and start scoring additional scores in open-play also.