Diego Costa issues update after reigniting feud with ex-Liverpool star Martin Skrtel

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Diego Costa and Martin Skrtel appear to have buried the hatchet just hours after breathing fresh life into their bitter feud. The pair were opponents at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as a Chelsea legends side welcomed an XI of Liverpool icons.

And Costa , 37, appeared not to have lost any competitive edge. Just seconds after being on the end of a rough but fair tackle from the former defender, the pair squared up to each other.

Things appeared to simmer down, only for Costa to produce a body-check on Skrtel minutes later. The latter seemed far from happy as he waved an accusative finger at the former Chelsea man, who was eventually booked by the referee.

But hours after the game, the pair appear to have made up. Costa shared an image of the two on his Instagram story, locked in an embrace, both showing fists to the camera, alongside a laughing and red heart emoji.

Costa and Skrtel have a long-running feud stretching back to their respective periods in the Premier League . During a Carabao Cup meeting between Chelsea and Liverpool in 2015, Costa was accused of stamping on Emre Can and then Skrtel.

He avoided punishment from the referee but was retrospectively hit with three-game ban by the FA. Speaking at the time, then Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said: "It was poor from him. He doesn't need to do it.

“It wasn't good for the game. He's an outstanding player, an outstanding footballer. He has this edge to him.

"With Emre Can, that was poor, I felt. He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty. And again the one with Martin Skrtel. There's no need to do it. That's the sad thing of it.

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"He's a top-class player and he's clever enough that the officials don't see it. The referee didn't see it. When you see it afterwards, it's disappointing."

Responding to his eventual ban, Costa said: "It is a suspension. I have to accept that, I have to take it. Obviously I feel sad because I'm not going to be able to help the team to play.

"I'm not saying I'm an angel. I'm no angel. You can see that. But every time I play I will play the same way because that's the way I am.

"That's what I need to do in order to support my family. That's my bread and butter. Also, that's what I need to do for this club and for the fans of this club, for the supporters and for all the people involved in this club."

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