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One of the biggest stories of the Premier League season so far concerns the reduction of scoring in open play and how teams have been scoring increasingly from set-plays as an alternative.

Comparing how goals have been scored to the initial 11 matches the prior season, there have been 39 fewer goals in open-play and 26 more from team set-pieces and spot-kicks, resulting in 13 less altogether.

Considering the broader view, shot attempts clubs are making show a remarkable 370 fewer in open play than at this stage previously.

And despite the significant rise in dead-ball scores, records show just two more attempts generated from them excluding spot-kicks, showing the proficiency teams are at devising strategies to net from dead-ball situations.

Scoring Rates Tell a Story

The 301 goals notched in 110 games up to now works out at 2.74 goals per game, if maintained for the entire campaign would be the least for five years, from five seasons ago (2.69 average).

However, only 196 goals coming in open-play averages out 1.78 per game and is tracking to be the smallest for 16 seasons, back in 2009-10 (1.76 per game).

2009-10 additionally represents the only Premier League season to experience goals scored more often from non-penalty set-pieces than this season's rate of 0.77 per fixture (0.79).

Which Teams Account for This Change?

When it comes to scoring from open play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have seen the largest decline, netting a mere four in 11 games, a reduction of 10 than at this stage last season.

Excluding Wolverhampton, the Premier League's fall in open play goals is predominantly a London phenomenon, with half of the city's seven teams netting a minimum of five less scores from open play than the previous year.

Honestly, this is primarily due to them netting lots of scores at the early stages of last season instead of their genuine struggle to convert in open play this season.

At the same time City have seen the largest rise, with all but one of the 23 they've scored so far originating in open play.

Set-Play Proficiency

We've compared clubs that came up with the relegated sides they took the place of. Play-off winners Sunderland have scored an additional three scores in open-play than the Saints achieved in their opening 11 matches on their way to demotion last season.

Regarding goals scored from set-pieces (not counting spot-kicks), Arsenal and the Blues have experienced the largest rise, with each team making up for the reduction of five goals that they've produced in open-play with identical figures from set-pieces.

Man United have scored double the number goals from set-pieces as they did in the 11 games last season ahead of Ruben Amorim assumed control, while Sunderland again prove better at netting than the club they replaced they superseded.

Manchester City seem unaware of the message about netting additional goals from set-pieces, as they've recorded a reduction of three than the previous campaign, as have the Reds, even if this may result from the altered approach they're working to install.

Overall Patterns

Six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, the Cottagers, Newcastle, Spurs and the Hammers – have been this term's leading trend-followers by scoring fewer scores from open play and increased from set-plays, while Man City stand as the unique club to go against the grain so far by performing the contrary.

It remains to be seen to see if sides persist to place such emphasis on set-pieces as matches continue or if they find again their general attacking flair and commence scoring more goals in open play also.