STEVEN Caulker has ended his loan spell at St Mary's to join Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Caulker made just eight appearances at Saints since joining on a season-long loan from Championship side QPR in late July.

He has joined the Merseyside club on a temporary deal from Loftus Road until the end of the season and is available to play for them against Arsenal tomorrow night.

Incidently, the centre-back's last appearance for Saints came in a 6-1 Capital One Cup quarter final defeat to Jurgen Klopp's side.

The 24-year-old’s opportunities had been limited on the south coast, having been behind Jose Fonte, Virgil van Dijk and Maya Yoshida in the centre-back pecking order.

He started six games for Ronald Koeman's side in all competitions, but his last was in the 6-1 drubbing to the Reds when he failed to cope with the pace of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi. 

Caulker may have had more chances at Saints but the purchase of van Dijk from Celtic on summer transfer deadline day pushed the England defender further out of contention.

The former Tottenham and Cardiff man 'showed a willingness to commit to the Reds at short notice', according to Liverpool's official website, and comes in to ease the Anfield outfit's injury crisis.