How long can the rabies virus live in liquid outside of the host?

Wet is one thing,  temperature plays a part too. Outside of the body it only lives a few minutes. Even when kept wet.

The rabies virus is actually quite fragile, and can survive only 10 to 20 minutes in direct sunlight, but may live for up to two hours in saliva on an animal's coat.  Temperature here will be the determining factor in how long it "survives" , once the salvia or blood dries the virus is no longer infectious.  It survives in the body of mammals because their body temperature is typically within the narrow range that allows the virus to function and maintain integrity.

The question is based on the premise that the liquid cannot simulate or equate with 'an active host,' which itself seems questionable(?).

How Long Can the Rabies Virus Survive? The virus cannot live outside of the body for more than a couple of seconds, which is good news. Live virus, however, can be found in deceased animals for as long as 48 hours.May 14, 2018

that was a simple google search

Depends on the liquid and its temperature. The virus can't survive a cooler host. Why opossums are resistant, they have a colder body temperature.

The virus cannot live outside of the body for more than a couple of seconds, which is good news. Live virus, however, can be found in deceased animals for as long as 48 hours.

If there was a big puddle of saliva or blood from an animal it might survive for 24 hours after the liquid had dried.   Now simply touching the saliva or the blood on your undamaged skin would not automatically give you rabies..   but you would certainly want to immediately wash your hands or any body parts that contacted such a thing. With hot soapy water and then dry with a towel and wash down the inside of the tub with the sprayer.

You might then want to ask a doctor hey doc I stepped in a pile of rabid dog spit. I don't have any cuts on my feet do I need rabies vaccine.

It's always to be safe than sorry in this circumstance

Viruses are barely alive anyway. they don't move, eat, breathe, metabolise or excrete

If there's nothing in the liquid that takes the virusmolecule apart (alcohol, bleach, soap) and there's no (UV)radiation doing that, it probably can last pretty long