Ryan Shawcross would be an ideal signing for Liverpool, says Phil Thompson

Is Ryan Shawcross solution to Liverpool's defensive problems?

Phil Thompson admits he is relieved to see Stoke's Ryan Shawcross ruled out of the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday - and believes the defender would be an "ideal" signing for the Reds.

Shawcross will sit out Tuesday's decider - live on Sky Sports - after suffering a back injury during Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Leicester.

The centre-back had led his side to seven clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League games since returning from a previous injury problem, with the Potters having only managed two wins in 10 games in his absence.

The Soccer Saturday pundit believes the 28-year-old would be a perfect solution to his former side's defensive vulnerability, having seen them concede more goals than any other side in the top half of the Premier League this season.

Jurgen Klopp's side have also conceded a league-high eight goals from corners and Thompson believes Shawcross would be the perfect solution to Liverpool's defence.

Thompson told Sky Sports: "When Liverpool evaluate at the end of the season and look at the sort of goals they conceded, I wouldn't be averse to see them looking towards Shawcross as a solution.

Shawcross is out of the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg with a back injury

"In fact I think he would be absolutely ideal and he's been one of the most underrated centre-backs over the last five seasons. You just have to look at Stoke's stats with and without him."

Liverpool take a 1-0 lead back to Anfield thanks to Jordon Ibe's strike at the Britannia two weeks ago, but Thompson is wary that Jurgen Klopp's side have struggled with the favourites tag this season.

He added: "I would think it's still going to be difficult. It's like that with Liverpool at the moment. Stoke were perhaps a bit complacent in the first game and didn't expect Liverpool to be as dominant as they were.

"Being 1-0 up, you'd usually be thinking Wembley is close, but with this side it seems to be the bigger the challenge the better you going to get from them.

"The boot might be on the other foot this time, and while Liverpool won and Stoke lost badly at the weekend, it's certainly not over and I'm expecting an extremely tight tie."