In recent years, football teams have shown their appreciation and respect to champions of their own division, by applauding their opponents, the league champions, onto the pitch. In a guard of honour, the applauding team forms two lines to make a corridor, and the league winners run through the corridor in a single file. This is always a great show of respect, but when a team applauds their rivals onto the field, humiliation surrounds the players and their fans.
Humiliation for Liverpool at the Bridge
Liverpool who were set to win their first title in 20 years last season, fell short in their chase after losing 2-0 at home to Chelsea in a game marred by skipper Steven Gerrard's slip that resulted in Chelsea scoring their first goal through Demba Ba's calm finish late in the first half.
In stark contrast to last season, Liverpool have missed out on Champions League football next season and to add insult to injury, the Reds performed the guard of honour for the newly crowned champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Here's a look at 5 of the most memorable guards of honour in football:
1. Chelsea receive Guard of Honour from Man Utd players at Old Trafford
It's always a special occasion when Chelsea take on Manchester United, but the clash at Old Trafford on May 11, 2005 was much more memorable for the Chelsea fans.
Manchester United welcomed Chelsea, who had just won the 2004/05 Premier League title, onto the field with a guard of honour.
In spite of being a great show of respect from the United players, it's not one that is fondly remembered by the United faithful, as the Red Devils lost the match by a scoreline of 3-1.
2. Manchester United get their revenge over Chelsea
After playing catch up with Chelsea for two successive seasons, Manchester United roared back in style as the Red Devils won the 2006/07 Premier League title, their first in three seasons.
Chelsea applauded the United players onto the pitch with a guard of honour, which was deemed to be one of the most hysterical one in football history.
United fielded a team straight from the reserves as only four first team players featured in the match at Stamford Bridge. The game ended in 0-0 stalemate.
3. Real Madrid rub salt to Barca's wounds
The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is the most vicious and fierce one in football history, but Barcelona let their differences aside as they performed a guard of honour for the newly crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 8, 2008.
It was a game to forget for the Catalans, as the Los Blancos ran rampant smashing four goals past their arch rivals.
Goals from Raul, Arjen Robben, Gonzalo Higuain and a penalty from Ruud Van Nistelrooy secured a 4-1 victory against Barcelona who pulled one back through Thierry Henry's late consolation goal, to cap a woeful season for the Catalans that saw them finish in third on the La Liga table.
4. Arsenal perform guard of honour for Manchester United
There's always mutual hatred between two rivals in football, but even more so when your star striker decides to join the other team.
Robin Van Persie who was the Premier League top scorer in the 2011/12 season, was also Arsenal's Player of the Year that season. But his thirst for Silverware saw him shift base from north London to Manchester United in a transfer that shook the footballing world.
Manchester United went on to win the 2012/13 Premier League title and Robin Van Persie repeated his feat from the previous season, as the Dutchman won the Golden Boot for the second season running.
Van Persie's first return to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium was one to forget for the Arsenal fans, as they welcomed their former talisman with a guard of honour.
Arsenal players welcomed the newly crowned champions Manchester United with a guard of honour, in a match where the north London club were set to spoil the Red Devils' title celebrations.
But to add salt to Arsenal's wounds, Robin Van Persie converted from the spot kick for United to cancel out Theo Walcott's opener for Arsenal.
Both teams shared points in the end, as the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
5. Sir Alex receives guard of honour in his last match at Old Trafford
After 26 years in the job, Sir Alex Ferguson called time on his illustrious managerial career that saw him win 13 League titles, 5 FA Cups and 2 Champions League titles.
Old Trafford, dubbed as the Theatre of Dreams produced one of the most magical atmospheres in a football arena, as both sets of players from Manchester United and Swansea performed a guard of honour for the Scot in his last competitive game at Old Trafford.
Swansea clearly didn't read the script as Michu's equaliser for Swansea in the 49th, cancelled out Javier Hernandez's opener for United in the 39th, as the Swans looked set to steal a point from Old Trafford
But Rio Ferdinand's thumping winner in the 87th, characteristic to Ferguson's "never die" attitude, secured a fantastic comeback victory for the Red Devils, which eventually remained Sir Alex's last victory for United.
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