Chelsea vs Liverpool legends: Diego Costa kicks out Skrtel to revive the rivalry

Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa reminded fans that his fiery personality on the pitch hasn’t mellowed one bit since leaving Stamford Bridge in 2017.

The 36-year-old was back in blue on Saturday for the Chelsea Legends vs Liverpool Legends charity match at Stamford Bridge and it didn’t take long for tempers to flare, this time with former Reds defender Martin Skrtel.

During the first half, Costa received the ball with his back to goal when Skrtel came sliding in from behind with a hard challenge. The ever-combative Costa responded immediately, kicking out at Skrtel before the two squared up face-to-face.

The pair exchanged shoves as the referee and players stepped in to calm things down. But in true Diego Costa fashion, the drama wasn’t over.

Moments later, Costa saw his opportunity for payback. Chasing down a pass, the Spaniard clattered into the back of Skrtel, sending the Slovakian crashing to the turf, to a chorus of gasps and amused cheers from the Stamford Bridge crowd.

The referee promptly showed Costa a yellow card, while Skrtel responded with a stern finger wag and a glare that brought back memories of their fierce Premier League battles nearly a decade ago.