Steven Caulker to Liverpool: Loan switch agreed in time for Arsenal match

The one-time England defender joins the Reds in time to face Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday night

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Liverpool have signed Queens Park Rangers central defender Steven Caulker on loan until the end in season, in time for him to play against Arsenal in the Premier League tomorrow.

Caulker – whose previous season-long loan at Southampton has been cancelled - was registered as a Liverpool player ahead of the midday Premier League deadline, which his new club needed to meet to make him eligible play against Arsene Wenger’s side.

The defence also expected to include Kolo Toure. Liverpool moved quickly. The 24-year-old was at Loftus Road this morning but the paperwork was done remotely.

Caulker was travelling to Merseyside this afternoon where – traffic permitting - he will be able to train with Liverpool, whose session at the Melwood training ground does not start until 4pm. The move is also subject to the player passing a medical on Merseyside, though that is not expected to pose any problems.

Caulker, who began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, has not played for Southampton since his appearance in Liverpool’s 6-1 Capital One Cup demolition of the South Coast team. Liverpool are hopeful that his lack of playing time at St Mary’s Stadium will create a willingness to cancel the original loan deal and provide a fresh start for the player in Liverpool.

Klopp has Mamadou Sakho desperate to start alongside Kolo Toure tomorrow – but the player’s fitness is still in a little doubt. Captain Jordan Henderson (heel) is available and Dejan Lovren is possibly a contender for Manchester United’s visit to Anfield on Sunday, having recovered quicker than anticipated from a hamstring.

Caulker is expected to discuss his Anfield move publicly later today.