'Most Diego Costa thing ever' - Chelsea legend kicks Skrtel before shock lunge

DIEGO COSTA showed he hasn't lost any of the fire after KICKING OUT at old foe Martin Skrtel in the Chelsea vs Liverpool Legends match.

The ex-Brazil and Spain forward, 37, was running onto a through ball from Eden Hazard, when Skrtel came through from behind to win the ball from the physical striker, leaving him furious.

3 Diego Costa was booked after kicking Martin Skrtel before clattering him a minute later Credit: PA

3 Costa and old rival Martin Skrtel later went at it during the 'friendly' Credit: Getty

3 The pair appeared to have made up, though, after the full-time whistle Credit: Instagram @diego.costa

Costa , still on the floor, decided to lash out at Skrtel with his studs, planting a foot into the right-back's upper leg.

Skrtel was left furious as Costa got to his feet and squared up to the 35-year-old.

Things looked to be defused, only for Costa to go for Skrtel once mroe.

The Slovakian defender challenged old rival Costa just minutes later.

And, with the striker still clearly unhappy, he then got booked for squaring up to Skrtel - with the pair having a history following two huge bust-ups a decade ago.

Costa somehow escaped punishment in 2015 after appearing to stamp on Skrtel during Chelsea's 3-1 loss to Liverpool, having already raked the Reds star's eyes in November 2014.

And fans watching the Chelsea Legends vs Liverpool Legends clash were left less-than-shocked on social media.

Taking to X, one wrote: "Diego Costa being aggressive in a Legends match is the most Diego Costa thing ever."

Another said: "People don’t really change, and Diego Costa reminding us why."

A third added: "Diego Costa will always be Diego Costa."

Even Chelsea legend Hazard weighed in at half-time, saying: ""This guy is still the same, you know. We just saw it."

After the match, Chelsea boss for the day Roberto Di Matteo said: "I love it, I love it. He's a fantastic personality and you need fiery players in your team.

"In my day we had Dennis Wise who would rattle the opposition.

"I understand why managers loved to have him."

Liverpool goalscorer Babel, who paid tribute to Diogo Jota with his celebration, felt it was "unnecessary" for a charity game.

He added: "It's a match for a good cause so in my opinion it was unnecessary.

"But as athletes you want to be competitive and once you are at it - especially in a game like Chelsea vs Liverpool - you want to win.

"With those two characters I feel like it's normal."

The pair later posed for a picture on Costa's Instagram suggesting the two had made up, as they grinned with an arm around each other.

Costa captioned the snap with cry-laughing and heart emojis.