Roy Hodgson gives verdict on Liverpool's quadruple pursuit ahead of Watford clash

Roy Hodgson goes back to Anfield insisting the Quadruple is not an impossible dream for Liverpool.

The former England manager heads for Merseyside hoping lowly Watford can “surprise the football world” by stalling the red juggernaut as Jurgen Klopp's side begin the final countdown to an unprecedented clean sweep of major honours. In 1999, the year Watford pulled off their only win at Liverpool under Graham Taylor, Manchester United achieved the Treble, and Hodgson believes Liverpool may have the firepower to go one better.

Klopp, who has already banked the League Cup, faces Manchester City twice in a week – in a possible title shoot-out at the Etihad and the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley – and the Kop head for Portugal in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday. Hornets boss Hodgson, whose reign as Liverpool manager lasted just 31 games in 2010-11, said: “I think the Quadruple is possible. A Treble is a wonderful achievement. To win the Quadruple you've got to beat the best in Europe as well as in your own country but, yes, I do believe it's a possibility.

“The teams at the top of our league are now so good that they are capable, to some extent, of wiping the board – as long as they can see off their closest and fiercest rivals at home. They will sweep everyone else aside, except maybe one or two just below them, so they have got to clear that hurdle first, and they are going to need a good slice of fortune, certainly in terms of keeping key players fit. When you are manager of Fulham, West Brom, Crystal Palace or Watford, you don't really care about winning Doubles or Trebles – what you care about is taking a point or two off them to keep ourselves in the Premier League.”

Despite trailing title rivals