Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is relishing a potential repeat of his last encounter with Chelsea star Diego Costa on Sunday, reports the Daily Express.
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The pair last played each other in the Capital One Cup semi-final, which the Blues won. One of the most notable parts of the match was the battle between the Spain international and his Slovakian counterpart, which was especially physical.
Skrtel said: “I don’t want to say he’s a pain to play against, but he’s not comfortable. He runs a lot and likes the physical side of the game. You have to face him and deal with that. I’ve enjoyed our games and maybe he has as well.”
However, the 30-year-old may not get to relive the skirmish, with Costa struggling for fitness over the past few weeks. The 26-year-old has had hamstring problems throughout the campaign, and with the Premier League trophy already at Stamford Bridge they may not want to risk him in a match that doesn’t matter for them.
The game is still important for the Reds though, who need a victory to keep the pressure on Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification. Fourth placed United are just four points ahead of their Merseyside rivals after a run of three straight defeats. Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that his side will be able to take advantage of playing a side which has nothing left to achieve.