yes ... surely as quality cover for injuries / suspensions to your back line. he may be the wrong side of 30, but at the same time, he is a seasoned international, having played at the highest levels for both club and country and as has been mentioned before, he is surely much better than the likes of traore and biscan who are error prone (errors cost goals and goals conceded mean points dropped.) indeed, gh should have seen the error of his ways when he had to play diao out of position at right back due to injuries.
but houllier is someone with very good memory, so babbel may well be on his way out - cross him at your peril and babbel surely did so when he was subbed in a match vs villa. babbel didn't like being subbed and stormed into the changing rooms.
in addition to that outburst, he was red-carded in a reserve match.