Liverpool have completed the signing of Italian full-back Andrea Dossena from Udinese on a four-year contract.

Dossena, 26, replaces Norwegian John Arne Riise who left for Roma and joins for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £7million.

He has been capped once by Italy, in a friendly last year.

As he unveiled Dossena and fellow summer signing Philipp Degen, Reds manager Rafael Benitez said: "Everybody agreed, including the fans, that we needed to improve in the wide areas, we needed something different.

"We have been looking for full-backs with an offensive mentality. Degen and Dossena can both go forward and they will compete for the defensive positions.

"We needed full-backs with different qualities and these two will be good for us.

"They have both played in strong leagues in Italy and Germany, tough competitions, and they will fit into our squad well.

"They have an offensive mentality, quality on the ball and a good attitude. They can certainly help our strikers.

"We have Degen competing with (Steve) Finnan and (Alvaro) Arbeloa on the right, while Dossena is competing with (Fabio) Aurelio and (Emiliano) Insua on the left. We have six full-backs now to give us choice."

Dossena said: "This is a club of great prestige, with players of the highest calibre. I must admit I enjoyed their win over Inter Milan in the European Cup last season and I am determined to work hard to prove myself here.

"And I definitely believe this team can challenge for the title. But even from training I already realise English football is different. It is all about possession and the ball seems to move quicker.

"There is also a great determination among the players in training, but these are all qualities that are characteristic of me too. In this way, I feel half English, half Italian."