This season in the Premier League, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of goals scored from outside the penalty area, marking the highest frequency since the 2013-2014 season, as per data from Opta. A notable example is Liverpool's midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored a direct free-kick goal against Manchester City, making it his second long-range goal this season. Aston Villa, led by English striker Morgan Rogers, has recorded the highest number of goals from outside the box among all teams, demonstrating a shift in scoring methods across the league.

Despite this increase in successful long-range shots, statistics show a decline in the number of attempts from outside the box. In the 2006-2007 season, an average of 12.22 shots were taken from outside the area per match, whereas this season, that number has decreased to 7.83. The changing dynamics of scoring behavior could imply a more strategic approach by teams focusing on high-quality shots, as evidenced by the low expected goals (xG) values of these external efforts, with Szoboszlai's goals having an xG likelihood of just 0.09%.

The juxtaposition of fewer attempts with a higher conversion rate from long distances raises questions about the effectiveness of defenses and goalkeeping strategies in contemporary football. The current trend suggests that while the attempts may have decreased, players with the skill to convert from outside the box are becoming increasingly adept, contributing to a changing landscape in goal scoring patterns within the Premier League.