Liverpool complete loan signing of QPR defender Steven Caulker

However, the Southampton loan deal could be cut short early if a deal is agreed to take Caulker to Merseyside for the next six months.

A deal for the 24-year-old, who had been on loan at Southampton, was finalised swiftly and the paperwork submitted ahead of the noon deadline, meaning he is eligible for selection to face Arsenal on Wednesday.

The lack of cover could lead Klopp to dip into the loan market.

The signing comes with Jurgen Klopp’s defensive options severely stretched by injury.

Tiago Ilori was recalled from a loan spell at Aston Villa to play in the FA Cup third round on Friday.

After QPR also dropped down to the Championship last season, Caulker moved to Southampton in a bid to restore his Premier League career and add to the one senior England cap he earned in 2012.

Bizarrely, the last time Caulker featured for Ronald Koeman’s side was when he endured a torrid evening at the hands of his potential new club in the Capital One Cup.

Klopp hopes to have Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho available for the visit of Arsenal but Caulker’s arrival will be a welcome boost.

He has made only one Premier League start and two substitute appearances this term and his lack of action has alerted several clubs, but Liverpool are leading the race to sign the former Cardiff man.