Diego Costa vs Martin Skrtel: Old Flames, New Fire at Stamford Bridge
Old rivals, same edge
It was supposed to be a gentle Saturday run-out for a brilliant cause, but try telling Diego Costa and Martin Skrtel that. Chelsea and Liverpool’s Legends laced up at Stamford Bridge to raise funds for their foundations, with a bumper crowd in to salute some familiar faces. The names were nostalgic: Ramires buzzing about, John Terry marshalling, Petr Cech commanding, and Robbie Keane still finding smart positions for the Reds.
Their last charity meeting back in March saw Liverpool win 2-0, Peter Crouch nodding in a brace to steal the headlines. This time, the spotlight swung to a different double act entirely — Costa and Skrtel — who picked up right where they left off in their Premier League pomp.
Costa being Costa: full-blooded and in the thick of it
He might not have the same burst at 37, but Costa hasn’t lost the taste for a tackle or a tussle. From the first whistle he was in the referee’s ear, forever testing the line, forever making life awkward for defenders. Skrtel, never one to back down, met him head-on. The pair nibbled away at each other all afternoon, a proper bit of old-school needle that had the punters grinning.
In the end Costa was the only booking of the afternoon — hardly a shock for anyone who watched him between 2014 and 2017 — but it summed up the tone: competitive, spicy, and just the right side of combative.
Viral aftermath: fire on the pitch, wink off it
When the dust settled, Costa took it to social media, posting about his latest skirmish with Skrtel — and the internet duly obliged by sending it viral. Classic Costa: thunder during the game, a wink and a smile afterwards. It’s why neutrals tune in and why defenders never quite relax around him.
Thinking about form, grudges and odds while the legends entertain? Have a look at the best guides to best betting sites before the next big charity showcase.
The rivalry that refuses to retire
This fixture has history, and it shows. From the Benitez–Mourinho years when every touchline glance felt like a chess move, to recent seasons where the clubs keep colliding in finals — Liverpool bagging two League Cups and an FA Cup — there’s always an extra layer when red meets blue.
During Costa’s peak, Chelsea had the upper hand on Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool while the Reds were still chasing that elusive title. Costa left with two Premier League medals and a reputation as a nightmare to face. Off the pitch, Anfield could always rattle him — who could forget that 2015 League Cup semi when the home end gave him both barrels with an unforgettable chant?
Final word
Call it a charity match if you like, but matches like these are a reminder that competitive instincts don’t retire. Costa and Skrtel didn’t just put on a show; they bottled up a decade of duels and uncorked it for one more round. For a crowd that came for nostalgia and needle, it was bang on the money — and thoroughly Stamford Bridge.
