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A key narrative of the Premier League this campaign is the drop of scoring in open-play scenarios and the way teams are finding goals increasingly from set-plays instead.

Comparing scoring methods to the initial 11 matches last season, we note 39 fewer scored in open-play and an increase of 26 from set-plays and spot-kicks, leading to 13 less altogether.

If we look at the broader view, the number of shots clubs are making reveal a remarkable 370 fewer in open-play than this time previously.

And despite the significant rise in set-play finishes, we've actually seen just two more attempts created from these situations outside of spot-kicks, showing the proficiency sides are at finding ways to score from dead-ball chances.

Scoring Rates Tell a Story

Over 300 goals scored in 110 matches so far works out at 2.74 scores per fixture, which if it continued for all 38 games could be the least for half a decade, from five seasons ago (2.69 per game).

Yet merely 196 goals coming in open play equates to 1.78 per game and is on course to be the smallest for since 2009-10, from 16 years ago (1.76 average).

2009-10 additionally represents the only Premier League campaign to see scoring at a higher rate from non-penalty set-pieces than this campaign's frequency of 0.77 per game (0.79 per game).

Which Sides Are Most Responsible?

In terms of scoring from open-play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have recorded the largest drop, registering a mere four in 11 matches, 10 less than this point last season.

Apart from Wolverhampton, the Premier League's drop in open-play scoring is largely a trend among London clubs, with five of the capital's seven sides netting at least five fewer goals from open play than the prior season.

Honestly, this is mainly because them netting lots of scores at the early stages of last season rather than them having difficulty to find the net in open-play the current term.

Meanwhile Man City have experienced the largest rise, with nearly all of their 23 scores to date coming in open play.

Set-Piece Success

Looking at clubs that came up with the relegated sides that they superseded. Play-off winners the Black Cats have recorded three more goals in open play than the Saints achieved in their first 11 games on their way to relegation the previous campaign.

Regarding scoring from set-pieces (aside from spot-kicks), Arsenal and Chelsea have experienced the largest rise, with each team making up for the five less goals that they've produced in open play with identical figures from set-pieces.

Man United have scored twice as many goals from set-plays as they managed in the 11 games last season before the manager took charge, while Sunderland additionally are more successful at netting than the club they replaced they superseded.

Man City appear not to have received the memo about increasing scoring from set-plays, as they've netted three fewer than last season, as have the Reds, although that might be down to the altered approach they have tried to implement.

League-Wide Trends

Six clubs – Arsenal, the Blues, Fulham, Newcastle, Spurs and the Hammers – are the current campaign's primary examples by netting less goals from open play and increased from set-pieces, while Manchester City stand as the only side to defy the pattern so far by doing the contrary.

It will be fascinating to watch if sides carry on to rely so heavily on set-plays as the season goes on or if they rediscover their all-round creativity and begin scoring additional scores in open-play as well.