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Today’s waffle will be buying one of those 99p flags and sticking it on their car this summer

Not since the Mirror trumpeted news that Prince Charles had put his full royal weight behind the British jam industry has the Mill seen such a half-hearted attempt to reinvigorate a Buy British campaign.

But if the back pages of today’s papers are to be believed then Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City could soon be jostling in line to get their grubby mits on the Croydon-raised slab of meat that is the Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson.

Apparently, Hodgson along with Everton’s David Moyes, Birmingham’s Alex McLeish and Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill is flying the flag for Britain and showing those rubbish foreigners such as Rafael Benítez and Carlo Ancelotti, who’ve never won a … oh hang on – only won three European Cups between them, how to manage a football club.

After Liverpool’s defeat at Old Trafford yesterday, it’s expected that Hodgson may be plotting Europa League success at Anfield soon, but don’t believe anything you read in the Mill, so there.

The other bit of British expected to turn up at market this summer is Joe Cole, who at the unsightly age of 28 – and with a bald head à la Julian Dicks – is shot, caput, over the hill and only good for a west London knacker’s yard. Unless Manchester United do the charitable thing and rescue him from Chelsea.

But one man not towing the line and doing his bit for Blighty is the traitorous Big Sam Allardyce. The Blackburn manager has been spotted winking provocatively at a 24-year-old Egyptian playmaker by the name of Shikabala. He’s 6ft 1in tall, plays for Zamalek SC and is a bit handy by all accounts. Well, Wikipedia says so anyway.

And Roma may throw an inflatable in the direction of Nadir Belhadj and rescue him from the sinking ship that is Portsmouth FC for £2m. Or they’ll let him tread water for a bit and then watch him drown. They are nasty foreigners after all.

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LiverpoolManchester UnitedFulhamChelseaEgyptRoy HodgsonPortsmouthRomaGregg Roughleyguardian.co.uk

• Alberto Aquilani scored first Liverpool goal against Portsmouth
• Reds trailing Lille 1-0 from Europa League last-16 first leg

Alberto Aquilani is doubtful for Liverpool’s Europa League match with Lille tomorrow, Rafael Benítez has confirmed.

The Italy midfielder – who scored his first goal for Liverpool in a man-of-the-match display against Portsmouth on Monday – missed training at Melwood on Wednesday.

“He has a virus and is struggling with his fitness,” Benítez said. “We have to take care of him and decide tomorrow. It will be a late decision.”

Liverpool trail 1-0 from the first leg of the last-16 tie.

LiverpoolUefa Europa Leagueguardian.co.uk

Having played more games than all their rivals, Liverpool desperately need a win if they are to maintain their challenge for the fourth Champions League place. With a trip to Manchester United to come next week, anything less than three points could be disastrous for Rafael Benítez. Portsmouth, who took a horrendous mauling themselves at Old Trafford the last time they visited a big-four club, do not appear likely candidates for causing an upset but their stirring form in the FA Cup belies their lowly league position. Richard Flower

Venue Anfield, Monday 8pm

Tickets £35-37 (0844 844 0844)

Last season Liverpool 1 Portsmouth 0

Referee S Attwell

This season’s matches 12 Y48, R1, 4.08 cards per game

Odds Liverpool 1-4 Portsmouth 14-1 Draw 5-1

Liverpool

Subs from Cavalieri, Aquilani, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, Rodríguez, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Degen, El Zhar, Darby, Kelly, Ayala, Pacheco

Doubtful Benayoun (ankle)

Injured Aurélio (thigh, 18 Mar), Skrtel (ankle, Apr)

Suspended None

Form guide LWDLWW

Disciplinary record Y49 R5

Leading scorer Torres 13

Portsmouth

Subs from Ashdown, Mullins, Webber, Vanden Borre, Owusu-Abeyie, Utaka, Smith, Basinas, Diop, Kanu, Ritchie, Wilson

Doubtful Mokoena (knee), Smith (groin), Utaka (groin), Vanden Borre (hamstring)

Injured Boateng (ankle, May), Yebda (knee, May)

Suspended None

Form guide LWLDLL

Disciplinary record Y60 R4

Leading scorers Dindane, Piquionne 5

Match pointers

• Avram Grant has faced Liverpool five times as a manager and has yet to lose a match

• Only three teams have finished in the top four after losing nine or more of their first 29 games (Chelsea in 1997-98, Leeds in 2000-01 and Arsenal in 2005-06)

• Portsmouth last won consecutive away games in December 2007 and have managed seven wins in 43 trips since then

• Liverpool have not lost at home to Portsmouth in any competition since August 1951, a run of 14 matches without a defeat

• Portsmouth have not kept a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League for nine matches

Premier LeagueLiverpoolPortsmouthguardian.co.uk