The Robertson stats that offer hope for Liverpool target Jamal Lewis

Liverpool may be champions of England, Europe and the World, but they certainly don't have a superiority complex when it comes to the transfer market.

The Reds have essentially recruited from the Championship in each of the past four seasons. When any team is relegated it is almost inevitable that they will lose one or two key players, with newly promoted or bottom half Premier League clubs generally cited with an interest.

However, it's a market that Liverpool have become used to shopping in, and are tipped to return to this summer. In 2016 the Merseysiders signed Georginio Wijnaldum from relegated Newcastle. In 2017, Andy Robertson was snapped up from Hull, while a year later, Xherdan Shaqiri made the move from Stoke and Harvey Elliott followed from Fulham in 2019.

This time around, it's Norwich City full-back Jamal Lewis that is reportedly in line to tread the same path to Anfield, while the title winners have also been credited with an interest in Watford's Ismaila Sarr.

It is, however, Lewis that certainly seems the more likely acquisition as things stand, with Jurgen Klopp keen to provide competition to the aforementioned Robertson. The question is, can the 22-year-old really compete with the Scot in the short or even long-term, or is he just to be seen as an back up to a player that has established a reputation among the very best full-backs on the continent?

To stack up the numbers of the two now would certainly be unfair on Lewis, but can his underlying statistics be compared to Robertson's time at Hull. The latter's performances in the Premier League for the Tigers didn't exactly leave a huge amount of encouragement that the defender could reach the heights he has since after all, albeit having produced some noteworthy performances.

There is no doubt that it was Lewis' displays in Norwich's promotion winning 2018/19 campaign that really saw him attract interest from the top-flight. Perhaps what is more surprising is that a club of Liverpool's stature are willing to look past - to an extent - what was an ultimately disappointing debut Premier League campaign from the youngster.

Lewis didn't register a single assist in 28 league appearances, scoring just once, but then Robertson managed just two in his final season at Hull and has since gone on to reach double figures in each of the last two seasons. The Jurgen Klopp effect is very real.

Indeed, elsewhere the numbers Robertson posted in the campaign prior to his move to Anfield don't really outshine those of Lewis. In fact, the two appear relatively comparable.

The Scotland international averaged just 0.6 key passes per 90 in 2016/17, which is a figure Lewis matched last season, while the Canaries full-back averaged more tackles (2 to 1.7) and dribbles (1.3 to 0.6) than Robertson at Hull. Moreover, Lewis' pass accuracy is greater than his potential new teammate's once was.

Nevertheless, it's worth remembering that Lewis fell down the pecking order behind makeshift left-back Sam Byram at a point in the campaign, only really re-establishing his spot in the starting lineup following an injury to the former West Ham man. There does remain a consensus, though, that the majority of Norwich's starting back four are far better suited stylistically to playing in a side that dominates possession and is able to play attacking football.

That is why both Max Aarons and Ben Godfrey remain in high demand, and while it may seem a given to some that a defender will perform better under less pressure, that isn't always the case. There are still many out there that love to defend first and foremost, which is why there has been retisence from top clubs to firm up any interest in the likes of James Tarkowski or Lewis Dunk.

The same doesn't apply to much of Norwich's backline, and Lewis certainly fits the mould of a modern day full-back that does his best work in the opposing half, even if a lack of end product in terms of goals and assists may not suggest as much. He was key to the Canaries' build up and wing play upon reaching the Premier League but was simply less able to have an effect further forward the huge step in quality that Norwich came up against.

That's not to say Jamal Lewis is destined for the greatness that Andy Robertson has achieved. He, like the Scot before him, would have a huge job to do in order to improve to such a degree but one thing the youngster can control is his dedication to doing just that. Robertson is a fan favourite due to his work rate and desire above all else. His quality has improved tenfold as a result, and that's the blueprint Lewis must follow if, ironically, he has genuine intentions of displacing the Liverpool star in the side in the long term.

The Norwich full-back may not seem like a hugely encouraging signing, but never underestimate Jurgen Klopp's ability to improve a player...