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A key narrative of the Premier League season so far concerns the reduction of goals scored in open-play scenarios and the way sides are finding goals increasingly from dead-ball situations as an alternative.

When we compare goal sources to the first 11 games last season, there have been a drop of 39 scored in open-play and 26 more from set-plays and spot-kicks, resulting in 13 less overall.

Examining the bigger picture, the number of shots teams are taking reveal a remarkable drop of 370 in open-play than at this stage previously.

Even with the significant rise in set-play finishes, there have actually been only two additional attempts created from them outside of penalties, showing the efficiency clubs are at devising strategies to net from set-pieces.

Goal Averages Reveal the Tale

Over 300 goals scored in 110 matches so far works out at 2.74 goals per fixture, which if it continued for the whole season could be the lowest for five years, from five seasons ago (2.69).

But just 196 scores scored in open play translates to 1.78 per game and is on course to be the lowest for 16 years, back in 2009-10 (1.76 per game).

That campaign additionally represents the only Premier League season to see goals scored more frequently from set-plays excluding penalties than this season's rate of 0.77 each match (0.79 per game).

What Clubs Bear the Most Responsibility?

In terms of goals scored from open play, Wolves have recorded the largest drop, netting only four in 11 matches, 10 less than this point last season.

Apart from Wolves, the EPL's fall in open-play scoring is very much a London phenomenon, with half of the city's seven teams recording at least five less scores from open play than last season.

In fairness, that's largely down to their scoring numerous goals at the start of the previous campaign rather than them having difficulty to score in open-play this campaign.

Meanwhile Man City have seen the most significant jump, with nearly all of the 23 they've scored so far originating in open-play.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Looking at clubs that came up with those that were relegated they took the place of. Sunderland the Black Cats have recorded three more scores in open play than the Saints did in their first 11 games leading to relegation last season.

When it comes to goals scored from set-plays (aside from penalties), Arsenal and Chelsea have seen the largest rise, with each team replacing the reduction of five scores that they've scored in open-play with the same number from dead-ball situations.

Manchester United have scored twice as many scores from set-plays as they did in the first 11 matches the previous campaign ahead of Ruben Amorim took over, while the Black Cats again have been more effective at scoring than the similar-colored team they superseded.

Man City appear not to have received the message about netting additional goals from set-plays, because they've recorded three less than last season, as have the Reds, even if this could be because of the tactical shift they've attempted to adopt.

Overall Patterns

Six sides – the Gunners, the Blues, the Cottagers, Newcastle, Tottenham and the Hammers – are this term's top trend-setters by recording fewer scores from open play and more from set-pieces, while City stand as the unique club to buck the trend to date by doing the exact opposite.

It will be fascinating to see if clubs continue to depend greatly on set-pieces as the season goes on or if they rediscover their overall inventiveness and begin netting increased totals in open play as well.