Pic of the Day - Guard of Honour as top two play out stalemate

Manchester United are given the guard of honour as they are welcomed to Stamford Bridge by Chelsea as Champions. The game was an extremely dull affair, with the two sides casually playing out a boring 0-0 draw. Neither Ferguson nor Mourinho decided to field full strength squads, with the likes of Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes, Ferdinand, Drobga, and Cech all rested. There were very few chances in what was really a pointless game. Expect a much different game come Cup Final day on May 19th.

Man Utd clinch Premiership Title

Man Utd secured their first league title in four years after Chelsea could only draw with Arsenal 1-1. Ferguson's men beat local arch rivals Man City 1-0 on Saturday, and the Emirates result means United are 7 points clear of Chelsea with only 2 games to play.

Full respect to Chelsea for pushing United almost all the way, where lesser sides would have surely given up a long time ago (Liverpool cough cough... Arsenal... cough cough). After failing to beat 10-man Chelsea, Arsenal fans sought joy in the fact their side stopped Chelsea from winning the title. Anyone would be happy with their side for that!

In the end, the game of catch-up was too much, and the Chelsea quadruple locomotive seemed to run out of steam just as it was pulling into the station. United's performances this season have been nothing short of first class, scoring a massive 20 more goals than the Blues.

Youngsters Ronaldo and Rooney have come of age and been sublime, whilst the 'old guard' of Giggs and Scholes seem revitalised. Add to that the superb defensive partnership of Ferdinand and newcomer Vidic, along with the Schmeichel-like Van der Sar, and there is no surprise in the outcome of the title race.

We now look forward to the game on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge between the two sides, where Chelsea are expected to offer a 'guard of honour' to the newly crowned champions. Sir Alex's side gave the Blues the same privilege at Old Trafford after they had won the league. The game may not be the title-decider that it was built up to be, but it will serve as a great opportunity for both sides to gain a psychological edge, before their F.A. Cup final on 19th May.

Pic of the Day - Chelsea blues as they concede title

Mourinho consuls Chelsea captain John Terry, and team-mate Frank Lampard, as their side draw 1-1 with Arsenal at the Emirates yesterday. Their failure to win means Manchester United are now un-catchable in the race for the title, and are crowned Premiership Champions for a record 9th time. The results ends a miserable week for Chelsea, where they have gone from fighting for the quadruple, to only having the FA Cup final against Man Utd left to play for.

Champions League Review: Liverpool 1 - 0 Chelsea (Liverpool win 4-1 on pens)

Liverpool booked their place in their second Champions League final in three years, after taking the tie into extra-time, and winning 4-1 on penalties, Dirk Kuyt with the winning kick.

The game itself was a rather boring affair, with neither side seemingly willing to throw caution to the wind and go for it. Agger's first-half strike from a cleverly worked free-kick set up a tense, but ultimately weary 90 mins, as both teams failed to make any clear cut chances, leaving it 1-1 before extra-time.

Chelsea were intent on hoofing long balls up to Drogba, which proved fruitless all night. Mourinho's side made nothing of the majority of their possession, and it was Liverpool, through the counter attacks, who had the majority of real chances, with Kuyt hitting the bar with a header, and controversially having a goal ruled out in extra-time after a marginal offside decision.

These games where the results often ends with a draw or a win by the odd goal seem synonymous of matches between these two sides, like a game of chess that just goes on far too long. Penalties was the only way of deciding such a fixture over the two legs, and it was the two Chelsea substitutes, Robben and Geremi, presumabely brought on for their penalty taking ability, that fluffed them.

That's not to take anything away from Reina, who again proved that he may be the number one spot-kick stopper in the world, and his Liverpool teammates, who all cooley slotted away their respective penalties. The team that as Mourinho puts it ' is only playing for the Champions League' is still playing, leaving Mourinho's Chelsea side licking their wounds, after seemingly blowing the title race and their European aspiration all in one week.

Lets hope tonight's game in Milan, is a much more exciting game.

Watch Match Highlights:

Mourinho spoof sketch all too true

No matter how controversial Mourinho may be, he will always have a place in TTIAO's hearts. What would the Premiership really be like without him.

However, he has been even more controversial than usual just of late. Firstly he accused referees of imposing new rules on his team that don't allow penalties against them, but don't allow penalties to go against title rivals United. Furthermore, he is caught in a bitter web of mind games with Liverpool boss, Rafa Benitez, whilst at the same time accusing fellow portuguese and United winger Cristiano Ronaldo of being a liar. Hasn't he been busy!

In reaction to this non-stop whining, TTIAO has found this little beauty. It's a sketch from 'Ruddy Hell It's Harry and Paul', a new show from none other than classic comedy duo Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse.Readers meet Jose Arragantio...

Watch JOSE ARRAGANTIO:

Mourinho escapes in laundry bin to beat ban

The self-proclaimed 'special one' is rarely one to hide away from a situation. However it emerged today that Mourinho managed to beat a Uefa touchline ban by doing just that, in the club's laundry basket. So that's where that sheepskin coat came from!

The Chelsea boss was barred from contact with his players during both legs of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich in 2005. This was the punishment set by Uefa after his controversial remarks following the previous rounds game against Barcelona.

Mourinho however allegedly arrived early at Stamford Bridge, and managed to watch the game on TV from inside the dressing room. After delivering the pre-match and half-time talks, it is claimed he escaped the stadium in the club's laundry basket 10 mins before the final whistle, back to the Chelsea Village Leisure Club, where it is said he was situated all evening.

Such a long time has passed that Uefa are very unlikely to even look into the incident, yet if true, it may well have proved instrumental in Chelsea's 4-2 win that night, and could also be an indicator of just how far both Mourinho and Chelsea are prepared to go to secure success. Would it be unwise or unfair to think that with all their money, power and success, Chelsea see themselves as a cut above the rules, even those directed by Uefa.

Of course, Chelsea and their manager will deny the incident ever took place, as they focus on tomorrow's crunch Champions League semi-final with arch rival Liverpool. It is however another intriguing landmark, in the ever blossoming and controversial career of Jose Mourinho.

All hail Great Britons – Champions League Review

As the dust settled on the Champions League qualifying stage last week, it seemed British football had the world at it’s feet. For the first time in history, all British teams have managed to qualify for the knockout last 16 stage – an achievement that of course is fantastic for British football.

On Wednesday night, Arsenal and Manchester United joined Celtic, Liverpool and Chelsea in the last 16 to complete a clean sweep for the British sides. Furthermore the three Premiership representatives all finished top of their respective groups, ensuring, in theory at least, a more favourable draw in the knockout stages.

The Champions League is regarded as the pinnacle of continental club football, and is a competition that in recent years has eluded Britain, with only Manchester United and Liverpool being crowned champions in the last 20 years.

I along with many other fans feel that with British teams making up more than a quarter of the teams left in the competition, the time has come for Britain to succeed once more.

Chelsea, although playing catch up domestically, have looked dominant in Europe topping Group A. Two baron years of the European success which Abramovich so passionately craves has laid claim to the fact that this competition is Mourinho’s main focus.

This determination can be seen through Chelsea taking four points of the possible six from the two games against reigning champions Barcelona. With the multi-million pound squad at Jose’s disposal, including the summer additions of Ballack and the under-performing Shevchenko, 2007 could Stamford Bridge welcoming home Europe’ most illustrious prize.

Manchester United have flown out the block, topping the Premier League, and winning the first three of their Group F games comfortably. United managed to put to bed last year’s Lisbon demons with a comfortable 3-1 win in their final game, and finally booked their place in the last 16 as group winners.

Many see Ferguson’s men as one of the favourites for this year’s competition, and with whiz kids Ronaldo and Rooney setting the football world alight, this could be the year that United’s young, maturing team comes of age, and go some way to living up to the success of 1999.

SPL leaders Celtic made history in making the last 16, with second place in Group F. Strachan’s men will be amongst the least favourites to progress further in the competition, yet it will be interesting to see some of Europe’s elite try and battle it out at the fortress that has become Park Head.

Arsenal and Liverpool have both floundered in the Premier League, displaying lacklustre form both home and away. However in Europe, both clubs have managed to top their respective groups, possibly a result of their poor domestic form.

Last year’s finalists Arsenal have a much depleted team from that which took them to the final in Paris last season. Their final ‘game’ against Porto was possibly the dullest moment of the season so far. Many questioned a possible carve-up between the two teams, and despite strong denials from Wenger, the 0-0 suspiciously saw both teams qualify from Group G. However, in Captain Thierry Henry, they have a player that should inspire the young talents of Fabregas and Van Persie to unleash the ‘total football’ of last season’s campaign and with the luck of the draw, Arsenal may find themselves there or there abouts come May.

Liverpool seek to emulate 2005’s heroics, and again succeed in the competition against the odds. The five time champions will still be one of the most feared teams in the competition, and the Merseyside outfit outlined their intent through qualifying as Group C winners with one game to spare. Captain marvel Steven Gerrard will need to discover more of the hunger and fight shown on nights such as the one in Istanbul, if Liverpool are to progress further in the competition. One thing for certain is that if Liverpool are firing on all cylinders, nobody will relish the opportunity to face Benitez’s side.

The draw for the first knockout round is due to be made on Friday 15th December at 12.00pm. Once the draw has been made, I am sure we will have a much clearer idea on the chances of Britain’s Elite, and whether we will really see a British team lifting the trophy in Athens next summer.