To add some excitement during the international break — and raise funds for both the Chelsea and LFC Foundations — the two Premier League giants reunited for a charity Legends match that brought plenty of nostalgia. But one man, Diego Costa, ensured things got fiery as fans tuned in from home.
Back in March 2025, Liverpool defeated Chelsea 2-0 with Peter Crouch netting twice. The sides met again at Stamford Bridge on October 11, 2025, in front of thousands of supporters. Chelsea’s lineup featured Ramires, John Terry, and Petr Čech, while Robbie Keane represented Liverpool. The event supported both clubs’ charitable foundations, which focus on tackling social inequality — though Costa appeared to forget it was a friendly, reigniting his old rivalry with Martin Škrtel in typical fashion.
At 37, the former Chelsea striker wasted no time stirring controversy, clashing with Škrtel early in the first half. Their bad blood dates back to 2015, and the tension was evident once again after Costa seemed to plant his studs into Škrtel’s ribs during a tussle.
The situation escalated before halftime when Škrtel retaliated with a heavy challenge that sent Costa to the ground. True to form, Costa bounced up, confronted the Slovakian defender, and exchanged heated words. Moments later, he got his revenge with a late tackle of his own — earning a well-deserved yellow card and reminding everyone of his fiery Premier League days.
Between 2014 and 2018, Costa was notorious for his aggression, collecting 30 yellow cards and one red in 120 appearances for Chelsea. During that time, he and Škrtel faced off multiple times in both club and international matches, often ending in chaos — including one infamous moment when Costa appeared to gouge Škrtel’s eye.
Reactions online were mixed following their latest encounter. “Costa, man, never change,” one fan wrote on X, while another joked, “This guy hasn’t changed one bit.” Some questioned his antics, with one comment reading, “Even for a charity match???” Others simply accepted it as typical Costa behaviour: “There’s no such thing as a friendly game for him.” Another added, “Least surprising yellow of all time,” while one summed it up perfectly: “They’re still beefing after all these years?”
