Liverpool: Mark Lawrenson unhappy with Jurgen Klopp's decision to sign Steven Caulker on loan

Even as Liverpool completed the signing of Steven Caulker on loan until the end of the season, Mark Lawrenson questioned Jurgen Klopp's decision to add the defender to the squad on a short-term basis. He moved to Anfield from Queens Park Rangers in the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old was struggling to break into the Hoops's starting lineup, which saw him join Southampton on a season-long loan before the start of the 2015/16 season. However, he was hardly used at St Mary's Stadium as he started in only one league match for the Saints.

The Merseyside club are struggling with injuries as the defensive duo of Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel are on the sidelines. In addition to this, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure have picked up injuries during the course of the season

Caulker's loan was cancelled in January 2016, which then allowed him to join the Reds on loan. Klopp admitted the former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back was signed to cover defensive injuries at the club. However, Lawrenson has expressed his disappointment at the mid-season window addition as in his view the player is not "good enough" to play for Liverpool.

"I can't see how Steven Caulker is capable of being the answer to Liverpool's defensive problems," Lawrenson told the Liverpool Echo. "I don't think he's anywhere near good enough to become a regular centre-back for Liverpool - let's face it he's just a body."

"To think that Kolo Toure started the season as the club's number four centre-back and they're having to make do with him at the moment, well Caulker would be centre-back number five.

"He couldn't even get into QPR's team and then went on loan to Southampton where he only played a few games. He looked decent a couple of years ago but he seems to have gone backwards.

"Football can be strange and maybe the chance to play for a big club like Liverpool could be the inspiration he needs to pick himself back up again?

"It just seems like a very short term move and having brought Tiago Ilori back from loan too, it appears that Jurgen Klopp believes the young centre-backs he's got don't cut the mustard."

Liverpool host Manchester United in the Premier League fixture on January 17. Caulker came on from the bench in his side's 3-3 draw to Arsenal and he could make his first start for the Reds against their arch-rivals on Sunday.