Nineteenth place Middlesbrough has allowed fewer goals than third place Liverpool. In 2007-2008, Birmingham City allowed 62 goals, which was the fewest of a relegated club. That was double the 31 goals Arsenal allowed, and Arsenal allowed the most goals of the top four clubs. No bottom three club has allowed fewer goals than a top four club in a 20 club Premier League. The last time a bottom three club allowed fewer goals than a top four club was in 1992-1993, when third place Norwich City allowed 65 goals, twentieth place Crystal Palace allowed 61 goals, and twenty-second place Nottingham Forest allowed 62 goals. The Premier League had 22 clubs then.
In theory a very defensive minded team could win 8 games, lose 15 1-0 and draw 15 0-0... with a net concession for the season of approx 20+ goals conceded and still be relegated...... so, many many variations are possible and in the end say little of meaning about what happened in comparison to other teams