Set-pieces goals are on the rise in the Premier League.

What's behind the growing emphasis on dead-ball situations? And why are some teams excelling and others struggling?

This week's Between the Lines looks at one of this season's defining trends as clubs vie for set-piece supremacy.

The increase in non-penalty set-piece goals can be seen in the numbers. This season, there has been an average of 0.8 per game, up from 0.6 last term and an increase of roughly 50 per cent from the 0.5 per game average in the 2020/21 campaign.

The inverse pattern can be seen for open-play goals. This season's average of 1.8 open-play goals per game is down from 2.2 last season and 2.4 in the campaign before that.

It is part of a shift of emphasis towards set-piece efficiency. Spurs boss Thomas Frank recently used the term "low-hanging fruit" to describe set-pieces as a route to goal. It is clearly a view shared by a growing number of clubs up and down the division.

Specialist set-piece coaches were unusual as recently as a few years ago. Now, 15 out of 20 Premier League clubs employ set-piece coaches. Brentford even promoted their set-piece coach to the role...