John Arne Riise expects Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to sign a left back to push Alberto Moreno for a starting berth before the transfer window shuts on August 31.
Moreno - a £12m signing from Sevilla two years ago - made a number of costly defensive errors last season and has struggled to find consistency in a Liverpool shirt.
Brad Smith's departure to Bournemouth last month leaves Moreno as Liverpool's only recognised left-back and Riise believes competition for his place in the team can help bring out the best in the 24-year-old Spaniard.
"I can see Liverpool looking for a left back and maybe a few others as well," Riise told Sky Sports.
"I'm big fan of his but last year he was caught too many times out of position and I think he needs more competition for his place.
"He's offensive, he's strong, he's quick but you can't get caught out of position that many times."
Klopp has experimented with James Milner at left back during pre-season after making tactical adjustments during games and deploying the 30-year-old in that position on occasions last term, including in the Capital One Cup final loss to Manchester City.
A day after announcing his international retirement, Milner captained Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in Saturday's 4-0 win over Barcelona, starting the game at left back before being forced off with a heel injury three-and-a-half minutes before the interval.
"Jame Milner is a guy who can play any position," said Riise, who racked up 334 appearances during seven seasons with the Reds.
"He's a guy who gives 110 per cent and someone I always like to see play because he always gives everything he's got.
"He may not always be the most skillful or the quickest but he gives everything and every team needs that kind of player. Stepping into a different position is also good and shows he is a team player."
Klopp has handed competitive debuts to a number of the club's academy since joining the club last year, with teenagers Ovie Ejaria, Ben Woodburn and Trent Alexander-Arnold also seeing first-team action during pre-season.
"I have been impressed by all of them although it's difficult to say which ones are going to make it long-term because pre-season games are very different to the big stage." Riise said
"It's always important for any team to have young players coming up fighting and challenging the more experienced players.
"You can see that Klopp is definitely a coach who likes to have young players in his team and that makes me excited about the coming season although it will be tough with all the new big-name players and managers coming in."
One man who continues to be linked with a departure from Anfield is striker Christian Benteke - a £32.5m arrival from Aston Villa last summer - who has struggled to nail down a regular place in Liverpool's starting XI under Klopp.
"He came with a big price tag last year and that is always difficult to handle," Riise said.
"If nobody offers that sort of money again, he may well stay at Liverpool and prove everybody wrong but I think it will be good for him to go to a club where he can play regularly."