During the Liverpool Legends’ clash with Chelsea Legends at Stamford Bridge, tensions flared midway through the first half when Costa and Skrtel went shoulder-to-shoulder in a fiery midfield battle. The former Chelsea striker had just seen his earlier attempt on goal denied by Pepe Reina before colliding hard with the ex-Liverpool defender.
Moments later, tempers boiled over. Skrtel, never one to back down, responded with a crunching tackle that sent Costa to the turf. Words were exchanged, fingers were pointed, and before things got out of hand, teammates and the referee stepped in to separate the two. The referee wasted no time flashing a yellow card in Costa’s direction, earning him the first booking of the afternoon — much to the delight (and amusement) of fans watching.
Supporters online couldn’t resist drawing parallels to their heated duels from nearly a decade ago. One fan posted, “It’s like 2015 all over again — Costa and Skrtel never change!” Another wrote, “Even in a charity match, these two can’t help but square up!”
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, who was also part of the lineup, summed it up perfectly during halftime: “This guy is still the same!”
The flashpoint served as a nostalgic reminder of the pair’s stormy encounters between 2014 and 2016, which included Costa’s infamous ‘double stomp’ incident on Skrtel during a League Cup semifinal — a moment that earned the Spaniard a three-match FA ban for violent conduct after similar challenges on Emre Can.
Saturday’s exhibition was otherwise filled with smiles and memories. Chelsea’s legends, led by Roberto Di Matteo, featured names like John Terry, Gary Cahill, Joe Cole, and Eden Hazard. On the opposite side, Liverpool rolled out a team packed with familiar faces — Pepe Reina, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane, and of course, Skrtel himself.
Still, for a few electrifying seconds, it felt like the clock had turned back to the Premier League’s golden age — where Costa and Skrtel once again went head-to-head in the kind of battle fans will never forget. 💥
Leave a Reply