Old Rivals, Same Old Drama: Diego Costa, Martin Skrtel Revive Rivalry in ‘Friendly’ Charity Match Brawl

There was no love lost between Costa and Skrtel still (X)

Some rivalries never die — even when they’re supposed to be for charity.

Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa and ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel reignited their infamous feud during a star-studded Chelsea vs Liverpool Legends charity match at Stamford Bridge, turning what was meant to be a feel-good reunion into a throwback to their Premier League war days.

Costa, who spent three fiery years at Chelsea between 2014 and 2017, started up front for the Blues’ legends, while Skrtel captained the Liverpool side.

The tension that once defined their duels returned almost instantly — and predictably, tempers boiled over.

Tempers Flare (Again)

The flashpoint came early when Eden Hazard slid a pass through to Costa. As the striker tried to muscle past Skrtel, the Slovak defender went in hard with a crunching tackle that caught Costa’s leg.

In trademark Costa fashion, the Spaniard immediately confronted his old nemesis, barking in his face before being pulled away by the linesman. But that wasn’t the end of it. Moments later, Costa sought revenge — clipping Skrtel’s calf from behind during another challenge.

Skrtel spun around furiously, pointing at Costa and shouting before the referee stepped in to show the striker a yellow card.

History Repeats Itself

For Premier League fans, this was déjà vu.

Costa and Skrtel’s bad blood dates back nearly a decade to the 2015 Carabao Cup semifinal between Chelsea and Liverpool, where Costa was charged with violent conduct after allegedly stamping on both Skrtel and Emre Can. The incident earned him a three-match FA ban and cemented his reputation as one of football’s great antagonists.

Clearly, neither man has forgotten.

Charity Match, Classic Chaos

The Legends fixture — featuring icons like John Terry, Petr Čech, Pepe Reina, Marcel Desailly, Eden Hazard, and Ryan Babel — was designed to raise money for both the Chelsea Foundation and the LFC Foundation.

Liverpool’s legends eventually won 1–0, thanks to a second-half strike from Ryan Babel, assisted by Jermaine Pennant. Babel marked the goal with a touching tribute to the late Diogo Jota, performing the same hand-clap gesture the Portuguese forward was known for.

But amid the good vibes and nostalgia, Costa once again lived up to his reputation as football’s ultimate chaos merchant. Skrtel, meanwhile, proved he’s still not one to back down.