While Degen will take the number 27 shirt, Dossena has been assigned the number 2 shirt most recently occupied by Alvaro Arbeloa.
The left-back, a direct replacement for John Arne Riise, who has made the move in the opposite direction by swapping the Premier League for Serie A by joining Roma for £4m, comes with a fearless reputation after twice being sent off last season.
And Dossena reckons his "half English, half Italian" mentality can help him settle into his new surrounds.
"Even from training, I realise English football is different," he says. "It’s 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.
"Of course I’ll feel very strong emotions when I wear the shirt at Anfield for the first time but after the first few seconds these will be replaced by a focus on what I am doing."
Dossena was particularly impressed by Liverpool’s run in the Champions League last season, and one victory in particular. I must admit I enjoyed their win over Inter Milan in the European Cup last season," he says. "And I definitely believe this team can challenge for the title. I believe Liverpool played the best football in Europe last season."
Dossena adds: "I have been very impressed with the facilities and also with the very good atmosphere in the dressing room.
"The talks I have had with Benitez have mostly been about tactics. He has explained that he wants a four-man defence but that the most important thing is that the balance on the pitch is never broken. There must be balance between the left and right-backs."
Dossena earned his so far only cap for Italy against South Africa last October, and believes his move to Anfield can help his international ambitions.
"The Premier League is followed and it will be up to the national manager to watch the players abroad," he says. "I am aware, though, that I am at the most prestigious team in England. There are other players who play abroad who are getting caps, like Luca Toni."
Both Degen and Dossena will hope to follow in the footsteps of Fernando Torres, who capped a magnificent campaign at Anfield by netting the winner for Spain in their European Championship final against Germany in Vienna last month.
And Benitez believes Liverpool can reap the benefits of the striker’s summer experience.
"We knew about the mentality and quality of Torres," he says. "Some people in the Spanish press were criticising him during the tournament, so I was really pleased when he got he goal in the final.
When you have players winning trophies, that’s important for their mentality. Sometimes you can see a good player who isn’t winning trophies, and you have doubts about his mentality. Now the Spanish players have shown they can win trophies.
"Here, a lot of players are new or young, and they need to give something more to show they have that mentality."
