Kevin Keegan has urged Liverpool to give Jurgen Klopp the time to finish the job at Anfield.
The Reds have been haunted by defensive frailty but former England manager Keegan claimed all top Premier League teams now struggle defensively because of changes to the laws.
The former Kop star, 66, preferred to go to wine-tasting on Thursday night rather than watch England qualify for the World Cup.
But though Keegan insisted he does not miss football, his world-weariness was replaced by enthusiasm when asked about the German who took over his former club two years ago.
“I enjoy watching Liverpool — I think he’s definitely the right guy,” said the ex-Newcastle and Manchester City boss. “He gets Liverpool, he gets the humour. The fans like him. They don’t want a manager with a notepad, they want him kicking every ball.
“I think they like the style of football he plays. Yes, they are conceding goals and they say it’s a bit like my team at Newcastle. But at Liverpool, and at Newcastle really, fans want the same thing.
“They want to see a good game of football and they want the team to have a go.
“The older Liverpool fans were used to that from when Bill Shankly came in right through until the Premier League was formed.
“I think he’s a great manager. He fits Liverpool. You can understand what he is saying, he doesn’t talk in riddles, he says what he thinks.
“I don’t think he is going to win the league this season. I don’t think even Jurgen Klopp thinks that or even the most optimistic fan. But top four is feasible again. Liverpool are a work in progress.
“I hope they have patience with him if it doesn’t actually go right because he is the right guy.”
Liverpool have kept only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season.
But Keegan, making a rare public appearance at the Aspire4Sport Congress and Exhibition, said: “There are a lot of teams in the Premier League struggling in defence.
“All the rules have been changed to suit attackers – yellow cards, red cards.
“It’s no fun being a defender. If a defender misses three tackles he’s off, so no wonder they are cautious.”