The 301 goals scored in 110 games so far averages out at 2.74 goals per game, which if it continued for the whole season would be the lowest for five years, since 2020-21 (2.69).
But just 196 goals scored in open play averages out at 1.78 per game and is on course to be the lowest for 16 years, since 2009-10 (1.76).
2009-10 is also the only Premier League campaign to see goals scored more often from non-penalty set-pieces than this season’s rate of 0.77 per game (0.79).
So which teams are most responsible for this change in how goals are scored this season?
In terms of goals scored from open play, Wolves have seen by far the biggest decline, scoring just four in 11 games, 10 fewer than at this stage last season.
Outside of Wolves, the Premier League’s decline in open play goals is very much a London thing, with five of the capital’s seven sides scoring at least five goals fewer from open play than last season.
In fairness, that’s largely down to them scoring lots of goals at the start of last season rather than them really struggling to score in open play this campaign.
Meanwhile Manchester City have seen the biggest increase, with all but one of their 23 goals scored this season coming in open play.
