Diego Costa Sends Message to Martin Skrtel Following Charity Match 'Scrap'

Diego Costa has sent former Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel a message following their recent charity match scrap.

Chelsea legends took on Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday with the Reds coming away victorious as Ryan Babel scored late on to hand the Merseyside outfit a 1-0 win in west London to exact a modicum of revenge for their 2-1 loss in the capital last weekend.

However, the main talking point was Costa and Skrtel resuming their rivalry in the charity clash.

While charity matches are usually friendly affairs with the sole purpose of raising money for worthy causes, the former rivals were at loggerheads once more.

Costa and Skrtel reignite rivalry

The friendly atmosphere didn’t last long as Skrtel put in a challenge on Costa, who quickly rose to his feet to confront the former centre-back.

The Spaniard got his revenge a little while later as he barged into the back of the Slovakian after he’d played the ball, prompting referee Dean Whitestone to dish out a yellow for Costa in a passage of play reminiscent of their respective playing days.

It wasn’t the first time both Costa and Skrtel have come to blows, famously doing so in 2015 when the former appeared to stamp on the latter, along with then-Liverpool midfielder Emre Can.

Costa was subsequently charged by the FA for violent conduct and received a three-match ban after the incidents were missed at the time by referee Michael Oliver.

Brendan Rodgers, in charge of Liverpool at the time, was heavily critical Costa at the time and claimed he could have seriously hurt Skrtel.

“He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty,” Rodgers said of Costa's stamp on Skrtel.

Pair made up after coming-together at Stamford Bridge

And yet while both players were again in each other’s faces during the meeting between Chelsea legends and Liverpool legends on Saturday, the pair appeared to have quickly made amends with a photo shared by Costa on his official Instagram account.

The image in question, which was shared as a story on the ex-Spain international’s Instagram, shows both players post-match with Skrtel’s arm around Costa’s shoulder and the former striker smiling with the heart emoji and Skrtel tagged in the post itself.

Costa and Skrtel may have stolen the limelight at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon but a number of legendary players of both Chelsea and Liverpool took to the field to raise money for Chelsea Foundation and the Chelsea Players’ Trust.

Petr Cech, John Terry, Marcel Desailly, Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard all donned the Blues shirt, while Pepe Reina, Igor Biscan, Stephane Henchoz and Yossi Benayoun, who actually joined Chelsea from Liverpool in 2010, all featured for the Reds.

Chelsea will hope to follow up their 2-1 win over Liverpool last weekend when they take on Nottingham Forest after the international break. Pressure is mounting on Forest boss Ange Postecoglou, with Sean Dyche rumoured to be close to succeeding the Australian at the City Ground helm.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are looking to return to winning ways when they take on rivals Manchester United. Arne Slot has overseen three successive defeats, with a 1-0 reverse at Galatasaray sandwiched between late losses at Crystal Palace and Chelsea.