As you might have guessed from my intro, it was Jose Mourinho's birthday yesterday. Coincidentally, it was also Brendan Rodgers' big day. But whose candle will go out tonight?

Let's have a bit of fun early doors. What would you buy Jose and Brendan for their birthdays? Be creative and get in touch: #bbcfootball on Twitter,, external send a text with your name on to 81111 or post to BBC Sport's Facebook, external and Google+, external pages.

I've just seen footage of when the Liverpool team arrived at Stamford Bridge. Brendan Rodgers stopped to shake a male stewards' hand, then gave a female steward a kiss on each cheek. A true gent.

Steven Gerrard starts for Liverpool, with striker Mario Balotelli returning to the bench.

Evening! It's all set up nicely, isn't it? Two of the country's biggest clubs going head to head in a winner-takes-all semi-final. Wembley seems so near yet so far for both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Let's be honest... we've all been there before, where we've messed up on a Saturday and spent the next couple of days trying to make amends.

So we should all know how Chelsea's players are feeling. Their gaffer has not spoken to them since Saturday's FA Cup defeat against League One Bradford. The silence has been deafening.

But he's probably willing to forgive, if not forget - providing his boys get the better of Liverpool in tonight's League Cup semi-final second leg. Probably.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

It's always a tricky situation. You upset your special one on a Saturday and they don't speak to you all weekend.

The cold shoulder really makes you sweat.

Monday comes and it's your chance to make amends. It's your special one's birthday.

But nope... they are still furious about the weekend. The birthday card is acknowledged but the silent treatment continues. Sitting next to them and eating birthday cake feels about as comfortable as spending the night in the dog's outdoor kennel.

Yep, you're well and truly in the dog house. It's only on Tuesday night when you can finally make it up to the boss...