It wasn’t the thrilling finale at the top of the table we were all hoping for (and you can bet Man Utd are pleased about that, see below!!) but at the bottom of the table, wow what drama!

It was an unbelievably dramatic last day’s action for the Premiership on Sunday. The main drama taking place at Bramall Lane where Wigan saved themselves by virtue of a single solitary goal and condemned Sheffield United to relegation. Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Alan Curbishley’s West Ham completed their great escape with a 1 - 0 victory over the champions Manchester United. West Ham are only the second team this season to do the double over Man Utd.

West Ham beat Utd at Upton Park in Curbishley’s first game in charge and everyone thought The Hammers were out of danger and were going to climb the table. Didn’t quite work out like that. But in the last few weeks, despite all the arguments and legal wrangling over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, they have won 7 out of 9 games and saved themselves from the dreaded drop and consigned others to the fate, due to the FA not deducting any points.

However, enough about that because we’re all going to be sick to death of hearing about all that soon, so elsewhere on the last day Tottenham, Everton and Bolton all secured a place in next season’s Uefa Cup with Reading and Portsmouth both missing out. At one point Portsmouth thought they had scored the goal against Arsenal that was about to take them into Europe only for it to be ruled out. Joy to despair in seconds. Know the feeling! It was that man Graham Poll again courting the controversy.

Liverpool ensured they finished in third after a draw with Charlton and Arsenal took fourth spot after that goalless draw at Fratton Park. Liverpool scored the equaliser in the 90th minutes thanks to a penalty scored by Harry Kewell. Only a minute before the penalty was awarded Anfield said good-bye to one of its all time favourite sons, Robbie Fowler, who played his last game in a red shirt in front of the Kop. Fowler was substituted. Seconds later the penalty was awarded. Fowler could have finished his career at Liverpool with a goal. How sweet would that have been for him? Alas, it was not to be!

So, back at Old Trafford, there were of course two teams celebrating. West Ham for ensuring their survival with the 1-0 win and Manchester United who lifted the Premiership trophy.

And in another of those fact being stranger than fiction moments, it was Carlos Tevez who was again the hero for West Ham with the only goal of the game to push his side clear of the relegation trapdoor. However, the defeat did not really spoil the party atmosphere for United fans as they celebrated their ninth Premiership success.

On the other hand, there won’t have been too many celebrating at Sheffield United (other than Wigan fans obviously) who The Blades joined Watford and Charlton in suffering relegation after an incredibly tense and drama filled 2-1 defeat to Wigan.

Wigan knew it was a must-win game for them if they wanted to survive and they got off to a flying start with Paul Scharner firing them in front. Jon Stead drew Sheffield United level with a very brave header in which he collided heads with Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt. David Unsworth, who in a twist of fate, actually started the season at Sheffield United, came back to haunt his old side as he scored the winning goal from the penalty spot.

Chelsea preserved their long unbeaten home run to draw level with Liverpool’s record of 63 games undefeated as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Everton at Stamford Bridge. James Vaughan gave Everton the lead, but the Premiership’s top scorer Didier Drogba ensured Chelsea avoided defeat with his 20th Premiership goal of the season.

Sam Allardyce, the ex Bolton manager, was an interested onlooker at the Reebok Stadium, as Bolton secured a Uefa Cup with a 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa. That must have been very strange being sat in the stands watching your old team play. Wonder if he was shouting instructions at the players? However, it was Gary Speed who gave Bolton an early lead only for Craig Gardner to draw the visitors level with a superb volley. Kevin Davies then restored Bolton’s lead in the second, but Luke Moore grabbed Villa a point with a brilliant late volley.

Tottenham finished in fifth spot with a 2-1 win over Manchester City at White Hart Lane. Robbie Keane continued his rich vein of form with the opener and Tottenham’s Player of the Season Dimitar Berbatov, who has had an excellent season, doubled the lead. Emile Mpenza reduced the arrears in the first half and Jermain Defoe missed the chance to get on the score-sheet when he wasted a late penalty.

Reading just missed out on a place in Europe after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Intertoto Cup hopefuls Blackburn. However, I think missing out on the Uefa Cup might be a blessing in disguise for Reading. It is almost an unwritten rule that second seasons in the Premiership are far harder than the first.

It was a great game however as Blackburn led on three occasions thanks to goals from Benni McCarthy, David Bentley and Matt Derbyshire, but Reading, as they have done all season, fought back to draw with strikes from Seol Ki-hyeon, Kevin Doyle and Brynar Gunnarsson.

At The Riverside it was Mark Viduka scored twice as Middlesbrough ended the season with a 3-1 win over Fulham. The Australian striker set Boro on their way with the opener only for Simon Davies to draw Fulham level. Youngster David Wheater then restored Boro’s lead in the first half leaving Viduka to show why Boro are so keen to keep him with his side’s third in the second half.

The ever fit Michael Owen (sorry, not really) suffered another injury scare yesterday. Owen was stretchered off with a head injury after a collision with team-mate Matthew Pattison with the England international suffering a mild concussion. However, managerless Newcastle were held to a 1-1 draw at relegated Watford. Kieron Dyer gave Newcastle an early lead, but Marlon King’s second half penalty ensured Watford left the Premiership with an away point.

So, another Premiership season over, done and dusted. The Champions and the relegated all decided. Fortunately, there’s still loads more football left this season, the highlight probably the Champions League Final re-match between Liverpool and AC Milan. Now that should be some game. If it’s half as good as the one 2 years ago, it will be brilliant. Anyone want to place a bet that one team will be leading 3 - 0 at half-time and go on to lose? What? No?

The Soccer Blogger

I thought some of these were rather amusing so I thought I’d post them for you, just in case you haven’t already seen or read them elsewhere!

Quotes Of The Week

“Two [European Cup] finals in three years - not bad for a little club.”

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard twists the knife. Mourinho branded Liverpool as a ‘little club’ before the Reds reached the Champions League final at Chelsea’s expense, again.

“I guess when you’ve invested £500m it’s a fantastic season to win the League Cup.”
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry sticks the boot in.

“We do not need to give away flags for our fans to wave - our supporters are always there with their hearts and that is all we need.”
Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez has a dig at Chelsea ahead of the game.

“We were the best team today, even against a team only playing for the Champions League.”
Mourinho can’t resist one last pop at Liverpool.
At least he’s not bitter then!

“In some countries, they help teams to prepare for European games.”
Sir Alex Ferguson can’t understand why the Premier League didn’t help Manchester United into the Champions League final.
Surely Sir Alex isn’t bitter as well, is he?

“If you’ve had three years at Chelsea and spent that kind of money and not got to the Champions League final, you might be in trouble from the owner!”
But Jamie Carragher has the final say.

“Their first one… for the life of me I do not know what that was for. Wayne Thomas must have sneezed on him.”
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill bemoans the performance of referee Trevor Kettle, who gave three penalties in Sunderland’s 3-2 win at the Stadium of Light.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to pay it.”
Alan Curbishley on West Ham’s record £5.5m (approx $11m) fine.

“He looks aggressive but he’s as scary as a kitten.”
Comment in Steven Gerrard’s autobiography about AC Milan’s Genarro Gattuso after the 2005 Champions League final. Could be interesting when the two meet up again on 23 May.

“Drogba, the strength of a Bull, but the pain threshold of a lamb.”
ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley during the Champions League semi-final when the Chelsea forward was rolling about on the floor injured, for the seventh or eighth time.

Michael Owen: “I’ve worked my nuts off to get here.”
Sky Sports interviewer: “How are you feeling now?”
Owen: “My groin is a bit sore.”
Hmm, enough said!

“Mourinho is the funniest thing to come out of London since Del Boy and Rodney.”

Mange too, Jose. Mange too!
Liverpool’s centre-half Jamie Carragher in the Echo prior to the Champions League win over Chelsea.

Terrace Chants Of The Week

“Taxi for Roeder!”
Newcastle fans to Glenn Roeder after they lost 2-0 at home to Blackburn. Roeder’s taxi out of Toon duly arrived the following day.

“Who’s the midget in the suit?”
West Ham fans to Sammy Lee during the 3-1 defeat of Bolton at Upton Park.

”Scunthorpe, Scunthorpe here we come!”
Spirited Charlton fans after going 4-1 down at Blackburn.

Leyton Orient v Forest:
Leyton fans: “You’re not famous anymore!”
Forest comeback: “You’re not famous anyway!”

Headline Of The Week

“Acropolis Now”
The Sun marks Liverpool’s feat of reaching the Champions League final in Athens at the expense of Chelsea.

Banner Of The Week

“For those of you watching in blue and white: this is what the European Cup looks like.”
On a banner with the picture of the Champions League trophy at Liverpool v Chelsea.

It was supposed to be the game of the season. It was supposed to be the battle of the Premiership crown, the final showdown, winner take all. But unfortunately for all the neutrals and, of course, Chelsea fans their team couldn’t keep up with Man Utd. The pressure was too much and tonight Chelsea have to welcome Man Utd to Stamford Bridge as Champions. Oh, that is going to hurt. Instead of playing for glory, all Chelsea have to play for now is pride.

It’s a great shame in a way. Wouldn’t it have been fantastic if the race for the Premiership had, for once, gone down to the penultimate game, or even to the last game of the season? That hasn’t happened for a while, or at least I don’t remember it. There could have been a little bit of deja vu involved if it had gone down to the last game.

I remember back in 1995 Man Utd were battling it out with Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn Rovers for the Title and that went down to the last game. Blackburn went to Anfield for the last game of the season whilst Man Utd had to play West Ham in theirs. Utd have to play the Hammers Ham again for their last game this season too. Man Utd failed against Blackburn 12 years ago and wouldn’t it have been pure drama, pure entertainment if they had to face West Ham again to try to win the Title. Of course this year would also have had the added spice of West Ham potentially having to win that game to stay in the Premiership and not be relegated. Now that really is winner take all. There could have been tears at both ends of the grounds, ones of joy, others of sorrow.

Now tonight’s game is little more than an FA Cup Final dress rehearsal. These two teams could be sick of the sight of each other by the end of the season, well Chelsea will certainly be sick of Utd. Thankfully they won’t be playing each other in the Champions League Final as well, imagine that!

As I’ve said, it will hurt Chelsea that Utd arrive at Stamford Bridge as Champions but the Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has congratulated Manchester United. Chelsea are also planning to make sure Man Utd are shown the proper respect on Wednesday.

Cole said: “They clapped us out when we won the league, and that took a lot of dignity. I am sure we will repay the favour.

“There is a good rivalry between the two clubs. We have a lot of respect for them. They won the league and fair play to them.”

Well, that’s all very nice but you can be sure that Cole and everyone else at Chelsea will be all they can on the pitch to beat the new Champions.

The Soccer Blogger

AC Milan 3 - 0 Man Utd (Agg 5 - 3)

The heavens opened in Milan last night and in the torrential downpour, Utd dreams were simply washed away. 3 - 0. I don’t think anyone predicted a scoreline like that. Milan were simply irresistable, particularly in the first half. It was almost a repeat of the 2005 Final in Istanbul. Then Milan blew Liverpool aside with a majestic display of football, they did it again last night, this time to Utd. The only difference was Milan only scored two goals instead of three last night and to be honest Utd were lucky it wasn’t at least 4 - 0 at half time.

Of course we all know what happened in the second half at the Attaturk 2 years ago. The question last night after 45 minutes was were Utd able to turn it round as Liverpool had done? Even though they did have about a twenty minute period of possession and pressure the simple answer was, no! In truth they have really made Dida work all night and once that period of pressure had been soaked up by an excellent defence, marshalled from midfield by the almost manic Gatusso, Milan just simply broke away with a counter attack spliting the Utd defence in two, and made it 3 - 0. Game over!

Gilardino scores Milan’s third goal.

So, it will be a repeat of that most amazing of all finals in Istanbul. Liverpool will play AC Milan on Wednesday May 23rd in Athens. You couldn’t write it, could you? Who would have believed you if you had? I mean, it’s a bit far fetched, isn’t it? But Milan wanted it last night. I think the result from 24 hours earlier at Anfield had a lot to do with what happened in the San Siro last night. Milan looked like a team who wanted revenge. They want another crack at Liverpool. Although I’m sure Liverpool will be more than happy to play AC Milan again too. They will want to show the world that the victory two years ago was down to them and not Milan throwing it away.

Last night’s semi-final started with Utd having the slight advantage at 3-2 following Rooney’s dramatic winner last week, but it didn’t take Milan long, just 11 minutes, for Clarence Seedorf to head down for the brilliant Kaka to drill the ball into the bottom corner out of the reach of Van Der Saar. 3 - 3 on aggregate and with the away goals Milan were suddendly in the box seat.

Milan kept the pressure on and Utd were lucky to survive until the half hour before they conceeded again but in truth Utd could have been 3 - 0 down by then. However on 30 minutes Seedorf capitalised on confusion in the United defence. He danced around a couple of defenders to fire in the second after half an hour.

The result lst night of course ended United’s dreams of repeating the Treble of 1999, but they really can’t have no complaints. You have to admit that they were totally outclassed by the Italians in a very hostile San Siro. The downpour only added to the intimidating atmosphere in the stadium, and when Milan began at that blistering pace, United simply looked as if they were rabbits caught transfixed in the glare of the headlights. Such was the speed at which Milan started the game.

So the dream of the all English Final is over too. And that’s a shame. How exciting would that have been! And I for one, thought it was going to happen. But Milan found their stride from the first whislte and Utd were unable to do anything about it and before they knew what had hit them, it was too late.

I’m not sure if it was just me but I thought that there seemed to be a lack of belief about United, which is just not like them, and I think Cristiano Ronaldo set the tone early on. The first time he touched the ball, which from memory, must have in the first minute or two, he did about 10 stepovers that did nothing and then tried a flashy back heal and simply succeeded in giving the ball away easily to a Milan player. That just produced howls of derision from the stands, got the fans going and in turn it got the AC Milan players going too! I can only imagine what Sir Alex Ferguson must have been thinking at that point but I guess the half time chat would have been interested to listen to. Although ear muffs would probably have been required.

From that point Ronaldo never really got into the game. Unforuntately none of the other Utd players did either. Compare that to players like Kaha, Gatusso and Seedorf. All three were immense last night, the whole team were really, but those three really stood out for me.

Liverpool are going to have to deal with them far better than Utd did if they are going to lift the trophy for a sixth time. I would imagine that Benitez was already planning his strategy and working out how he’s going to nullify Kaka etc before the final whistle even blew last night. I reckon he would have started as soon as Gilardino turned away in celebration of the third goal.

It will be very intriguing to see how he will try to do it as AC Milan seem to have hit top form at the right time. May 23rd can’t come soon enough!

The Soccer Blogger

Liverpool 1 - 0 Chelsea (aet) (1 - 1 agg)
Liverpool Win 4 - 1 on Penalties

What an atmoshpere! What a night! What pure drama! And after all the drama, which concluded in a penalty shoot-out, it is Liverpool who will line up in Athens on Wednesday May 23rd in the Champions League Final against either AC Milan or Man Utd. It means the potential of the Quadruple is now history for Chelsea and in the space of a few days, their season appears to be in tatters.

So after 90 minutes of normal time and then 30 minutes of extra-time, it ended in a penalty shoot-out. Always dramatic, always nerve shredding experiences. Even more so when it is to decide a Champions League semi-final. Was I surprised it ended in a shoot-out? No, not really. Although, for about 5 seconds, in the second half of extra-time, I did think Liverpool had won it when Kuyt followed up Alonso’s shot to put the ball in the net. Total mayhem was interrupted by the linesman’s flag. Television pictures showed it was a slide-rule decision. It was so close even the electronic scoreboard in the ground showed 2 - 0. Only for it to be quickly turned back to 1 - 0 to the relieve of the travelling Chelsea fans.

Overall, from a neutrals point of view you may say that it was a bit of a scrappy game over the 120 minutes but that would really detract from the occasion and be totally unfair. The tension was palpable and it got to everybody.

It was a real tactical battle between the two men who have been trading verbal punches for the past week. But you have to say that, yet again in a crucial cup showdown, it was the Spaniard who won another battle. Chelsea’s tactics just seemed a little strange all night. None more so than leaving five defenders behind the half way line when they had an attacking free-kick or corner. It was if Chelsea had come for a draw, which I find hard to believe. Personally, I think Mourinho and Chelsea believed they were going to score at least once at Anfield which would have meant Liverpool needing three. A very tall order indeed.

Another aspect of Mourinho’s game plan I thought a little strange was his use of substitutes. He waited a very long time before he made any. Mourinho has always struck me as a manager who is not afraid to change things early if tactics aren’t working out and I expected him to introduce the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips a lot earlier.

Also from Chelsea’s point of view I have to say I was very disappointed with Didier Drogba who in the first leg gave Liverpool’s Daniel Agger a torrid time. I, like most people, assumed Drogba was going to be Chelsea’s main threat but he just seemed more intent of arguing with the referee and play acting all night, rolling around on the floor as if struck by a sniper. There was one incident where the ball simply hit him in the face yet he went down as if hit by Mike Tyson trying to make out the Liverpool player had struck him. Of course, within seconds he had a miraculous recovery and he’s running around again like a five year old.

Drogba though did have Chelsea’s best if not only chance of the first half pulling a good save at his near post out of Pepe Reina. Thought that was the best, Chelsea did have a couple of other moments, but in truth they created little else.

However, Liverpool did manage to create a little bit more. Not a lot, but a bit more.

Crucially, what Liverpool did create was a free-kick about 18 yards out, wide on the left after a foul by Joe Cole on Gerrard on 22 minutes. It was ideally set up for Gerrard to swing the ball in towards Cech’s goal with pace and everybody in the ground, except those involved, waited for exactly that. However, Gerrard had no such intention. Instead he calmly rolled the ball square where Daniel Agger had managed to find a bit of space. Agger meet the ball sweetly with his left foot to curl the ball into the bottom corner of the net past a helpless Cech.

Cue mass hysteria and noise that, I’m afraid, can’t be described or appreciated unless you are there to witness it for yourself. Game on! Chelsea now had to score too or it was extra-time and suddenly the prospect of the penalty shoot-out reared its head.

Agger, Gerrard, Zenden and Riise celebrate the goal.

Apart from Reina’s save from Drogba there were few more chances in the first half and the teams went in at half-time level on aggregate at 1 - 1.

In the second half, with Liverpool attacking the Kop, they had three very good chances to extend their lead on the night.

Jermaine Pennant wriggled his way free on the right and crossed to Crouch but his downward far-post header was kicked away by Cech and John Terry completed the clearance.

And within five minutes Liverpool went even closer. A fantastic cross from John Arne Riise was met brilliantly by Kuyt but his header crashed back off the bar.

A rare Terry error then saw stand-in centre-half Essien bail out his skipper as he launched himself in front of Pennant and diverted the ball over for a corner.

Then it was Chelsea’s turn to put together possibly the best move of the half. Lampard combined with Joe Cole to put in Ashley Cole and Carragher got ahead of Drogba to turn the cross over the bar from three yards. Anfield let out a huge sigh of relief.

Despite all their efforts, neither side could produce that decisive hammer blow in normal time and the game, almost inevitably, went into extra-time.

It was Liverpool who went closest when substitute Xabi Alonso unleashed a rasping 35-yard drive that Cech could only parry into the path of Kuyt, who as mentioned above, turned the ball in before his strike was ruled offside.

There were very tired legs out there in the last 15 minutes of extra-time and from where I was it definitely looked like there were players who had settled for the penalty shoot-out.

Before last night Liverpool had been involved in 10 penalty shoot-outs, they have won 9 of them. Make that 10 out of 11. Liverpool simply romped home 4 - 1.

And it was Reina who recreated his heroics from Cardiff in last May, saving from Robben and Geremi. Lampard was the only scorer for Chelsea whilst for Liverpool Zenden, Alonso and Gerrard all took theirs. Anfield was on tender hooks as Dirk Kuyt walked up and place the ball on the spot. Having already hit the bar and had that goal disallowed, it was almost fitting the Dutchman had the chance to send Liverpool to their 7 European Cup Final. Kuyt took the chance with aplomb and Anfield was sent into ecstasy.

Pepe Reina celebrates after the penalties.

So Rafael Benitez has taken Liverpool to another final and their second Champions League Final in three seasons. They now have a chance to win it for the sixth time.

Don’t forget Chelsea already have the Carling Cup under their belts and now with the Quadruple consigned to the dust-bin, they must focus all their energy and effort on the FA Cup against Man Utd. Even if they win the FA Cup, they have again missed out on the one trophy they truly wanted. This defeat by Liverpool is a huge disappointment for Chelsea. Can they salvage anything out of the wreckage of the last few days?

Who will Liverpool play in Athens? Will it be a repeat of that unforgettable night in Istanbul 2 years ago against AC Milan? Or will it be the first all English Final against Man Utd. Both outcomes are mouth watering for different reasons. Only Utd and Milan can answer the question and we don’t have long to wait for the outcome.

The Soccer Blogger