LIVERPOOL legends Kevin Keegan, John Barnes and Steve McManaman yesterday insisted Roy Hodgson could survive as Liverpool manager – despite him appearing on the brink of the sack.

The latest Liverpool capitulation – this time at a Blackburn Rovers side missing eight senior players – appeared to simply offer confirmation that Hodgson’s Anfield tenure would be ended sooner rather than later.

But Keegan, Barnes and McManaman are adamant the 63-year-old still has time to turn it round, starting with Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Manchester United.

Keegan said: “In one word, ‘yes’. Of course he can. The opportunity comes at Manchester United to get back on track.

“It’s a tough one. Liverpool are a big club, big expectation, under-performed over a number of years – way before Roy Hodgson went in there.

“The decline at Liverpool has not just happened in the past three to six months. It’s been going on for a period of time.

“They’ve got to give him time but it’s the one thing you don’t get, as we all know. The clock ticks on the wall and managers don’t get time.

“They thought he was right four months ago and he did a great job at Fulham, so they’ve got to back him.

“They chose him – they’ve got to back him.”