Is the Entertainment Fading? The Decline of the Goal Scoring

A key narrative of the Premier League season so far concerns the reduction of goals scored in open play and the way sides are netting more from set-pieces as an alternative.

Looking at how goals have been scored to the first 11 games last season, there have been 39 fewer scored in open play and an increase of 26 from set-plays and spot-kicks, resulting in 13 fewer overall.

Considering the bigger picture, efforts on goal teams are taking reveal a staggering drop of 370 in open play than at this stage last time out.

Regardless of the notable jump in set-piece goals, there have actually been just two more attempts produced from them excluding spot-kicks, indicating how effective teams have been at devising strategies to convert from dead-ball chances.

Goal Averages Tell the Tale

The 301 goals scored in the first 110 fixtures up to now calculates at nearly 2.75 goals each match, if maintained for all 38 games might be the lowest 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 fixture and is on course to be the lowest for since 2009-10, from 16 years ago (1.76 per game).

2009-10 additionally represents the unique EPL season to see goals scored more often from dead-balls without spot-kicks than this season's rate of 0.77 per fixture (0.79 average).

What Clubs Account for This Change?

Regarding scoring from open play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have recorded the most significant decline, netting a mere four in 11 matches, a reduction of 10 than this point the previous campaign.

Outside of Wolves, the Premier League's drop in open play goals is largely a London phenomenon, with five out of the city's seven teams recording at least five less scores from open-play than the prior season.

Honestly, this is mainly because them netting numerous scores at the early stages of the previous campaign rather than them having difficulty to find the net in open-play this season.

Conversely City have recorded the most significant jump, with all but one of the 23 they've scored to date originating in open-play.

Set-Piece Success

We've compared clubs that came up with those that were relegated that they superseded. Sunderland the Black Cats have recorded an additional three goals in open-play than the Saints achieved in their opening 11 matches en route to demotion the previous campaign.

In terms of scoring from set-pieces (aside from spot-kicks), Arsenal and Chelsea have recorded the largest rise, with each team replacing the five fewer scores that they've netted in open-play with the same number from set-pieces.

United have netted twice as many scores from set-plays as they achieved in matchday 11 the previous campaign prior to the manager assumed control, while Sunderland again have been more effective at converting than the similar-colored team they replaced.

Manchester City seem unaware of the memo about increasing scoring from set-plays, as they've netted a reduction of three than last season, similar to Forest, although that might be down to the altered approach they have tried to implement.

General Tendencies

Six clubs – the Gunners, Chelsea, the Cottagers, the Magpies, Spurs and the Hammers – represent this season's primary examples by netting less scores from open play and more from set-plays, while Manchester City stand as the only side to buck the trend so far by achieving the exact opposite.

It will be interesting to see if clubs continue to place such emphasis on set-plays as the campaign progresses or if they rediscover their overall inventiveness and start converting additional scores in open play also.