Premier League: The decline of the open-play goal
The current Premier League season has witnessed a notable decline in goals scored from open play, with a staggering 39 fewer goals than last year and an increase of 26 goals from set-pieces. This shift has resulted in an overall reduction of 13 goals, and teams have taken 370 fewer shots in open play compared to the same point last season. Wolves have experienced the most significant drop, scoring only four open-play goals, while Manchester City stands out for its strong performance, scoring 22 of its 23 goals from open play. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen whether teams will continue to rely on set-pieces or revert to more traditional scoring methods.
Dive Deeper:
As of now, the Premier League has seen a total of 301 goals scored across 110 matches, averaging 2.74 goals per game, which would mark the lowest average since the 2020-21 season if maintained.
The average goals per game from open play stands at 1.78, the lowest since the 2009-10 season, highlighting a significant trend away from traditional scoring methods.
Wolves' dramatic decline in scoring includes ten fewer open-play goals compared to last season, indicating a larger trend affecting several teams in London, where five of seven clubs have scored less from open play.
In contrast, Manchester City has achieved a remarkable goal-scoring rate, with all but one of their 23 total goals coming from open play, showcasing their attacking prowess.
Teams like Arsenal and Chelsea have compensated for fewer open-play goals by increasing their scoring from set-pieces, suggesting a tactical shift among several clubs.
Sunderland, the promoted team, has managed to score three more open-play goals than Southampton did in their first 11 games last season, indicating their improved offensive capabilities.
The trend of scoring fewer goals from open play and more from set-pieces has been observed across six teams, including Fulham, Newcastle, and Tottenham, while Manchester City is notable for bucking this trend.