Jurgen Klopp pinpointed the importance of Liverpool's full-back roles as the reason for signing Kostas Tsimikas.
Tsimikas signed from Olympiacos last week for £11.75million to give Andy Robertson so competition on the left side of the defence this coming season.
With Neco Williams expected to feature more on the right side going forward, Klopp now has backup options for both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, two full-backs who chipped in with a combined 25 assists last term.
James Milner, Yasser Larouci and Williams all deputised for Robertson at times last term, but none of the trio would consider the role their preferred option and the Scotland captain was the only recognised senior left-back in the squad prior to Tsimikas's arrival.
And the Liverpool boss has outlined what he hopes the first signing of the summer will bring to the Premier League champions.
"Kostas is a signing which just shows what we are looking for, what we need," Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
"I think the left-back position was now not a position where the people out there would have thought 'we need another player' and stuff like this.
"It worked out pretty well, [Milner] played there from time to time but we cannot take any risk or we should take as less risk as possible.
"Our full-backs in the way we play are so important with the skills they have, the speed they have, the crosses they bring in and stuff like this."
Klopp also revealed the conversation that took place between him and Tsimikas that let the Liverpool staff know the new signing was happy to arrive as an initial deputy to Robertson, a player many view as one of the finest in Europe in his position.
Klopp added: "When I saw Kostas the first time, I thought, 'Is it possible to get somebody like him?'
"Meanwhile, he's not the most experienced player because he started a little bit later with a proper career. But in the last two or three years, he's really right on track and then has started building his career obviously.
"Then we had a conversation and he was very, very positive about this, knowing that we have already a world-class full-back – but that's exactly what you try to have.
"Robbo and Trent, let's say, they cannot play every season 50-something games – it would limit their careers, to be honest, even when they come through.
"So I'm really happy that we got this proper option and he is a proper option.
"He's a super guy, a very confident boy, cheeky and if you want, watch him on YouTube – probably most of our supporters did that already. I would say quite exciting."
After flying into the UK eight days ago, Tsimikas completed his medical last Monday and flew out with the rest of the squad to Austria on Saturday.
