Jordan Henderson and Diego Costa almost came to blows in the Anfield tunnel as Liverpool’s Capital One Cup semi-final against Chelsea ended in acrimony. The Liverpool midfielder had to be separated from the Chelsea striker by a member of his club’s backroom staff after the pair squared up following Tuesday’s first leg. No punches were thrown by Costa or Henderson but they pushed each other and were engaged in a furious argument. Henderson, who released Raheem Sterling for his equaliser in the 1-1 draw, clashed with Costa towards the end of the game, although what sparked their post-match confrontation is unclear. The Chelsea striker was accused of standing on a Liverpool player’s foot and was caught by Martin Skrtel’s elbow in the buildup to Sterling’s goal. Costa and Skrtel were involved in a running battle throughout Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Anfield in the Premier League in November. The feud between Henderson and Costa adds a subplot to Tuesday’s finely poised second leg at Stamford Bridge and another controversial chapter to the rivalry between the clubs. José Mourinho refused to state whether Chelsea were favourites to reach Wembley after the draw at Anfield but Brendan Rodgers claimed to have absolute confidence Liverpool could become the first team to win at Stamford Bridge this season. Sterling has said he needed a mid-season break in Jamaica to recuperate from his workload and the criticism that followed his withdrawal from England’s starting lineup against Estonia in October. The 20-year-old was recently given a week off by Rodgers and repaid his manager with a superb equaliser against Chelsea. The first leg represented Sterling’s 36th game of the season for club and country, a campaign in which he has assumed greater responsibility for both, and the forward believes he will be galvanised by the rest. Advertisement [iframe name="google_ads_iframe_/59666047/theguardian.com/football/article/ng_1" width="1" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/59666047/theguardian.com/football/article/ng_1" src="javascript:"[/iframe] Sterling admits this season has had an impact mentally, in particular after being widely criticised for telling Roy Hodgson he was “a little tired” to start the European Championship qualifier in Estonia. He said of his return to Jamaica: “I knew I would get loads of stick for being given the break but the manager did say at the start of the season this is what he would do. It was all pre-planned to have a break at some point. I have played a lot of minutes for someone my age but I am not complaining about that. “I think it will help me. I am back now, refreshed and ready to go again. I am just focused on trying to help the team as much as possible. It is always good to get a few days off. I am focused on where I need to be, which is helping the team by scoring or providing assists. Mentally you feel it. I got a lot of stick about the tired stuff with England so it all came down on me. But it was the manager who makes the decisions. If he says take a week off who am I to say no? I am back now ready and focused.” Sterling has led the line impressively during Liverpool’s recent recovery and opportunities to rest him were restricted by his form and the team’s struggles. Though affected by the England criticism, he insists increased responsibility at Anfield has not become a burden. “I try not to think about that too much,” said Sterling, who is expected to sign a new contract shortly. “Everyone in the team contributes and I am no different. We are a team. I am not trying to pick up a ‘main man status’ this season. As long as the team wins and we get good performances that is all that matters to me.” Rodgers rued Liverpool’s inability to take a win into next week’s semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge following a confident display at Anfield but Sterling insists the tie is far from over. He added: “It will help our confidence because we played our normal game against Chelsea. We did the things we wanted to do. We were not forcing our play. We probed when we need to probe and attacked when we need to attack. It will be difficult at Stamford Bridge because they haven’t lost there this season but if we play our normal game and play the football that we know we can play I definitely think chances will come. Thhttp://www.theguardian.com/football...-henderson-chelsea-diego-costa-tunnel-bust-up?
Costa's a proper wind up merchant...I wish we'd brought in a player with that passion and intensity instead of Balotelli especially after losing our chief winder upper Thought Skrtel played him pretty well though in fairness JH could start his own TV show on QVC....Handbags with Hendo
I just think cheslea haven't figured uot yet that with to DMs playing costa has not got the pace to toruble sides. We shoudl know here. torres was at his best with gerrard and a killer pass due to pace... masch and alosnso in behind. chelsea are at thier best with hazard higher up and willian too. Oscar to pass it and fabregas deeper pulling the strings. I hope they keep mikel in in the second leg.
I agree with Billy, Costa's a Suarez mk 11. Found this - look at .22 secs .... attempted bite. .51 attempted head butt
Surprised Costa hasn't received that much negative media attention with the crap he does. Would love to have a nasty player like him in the team.
Just translated those bits in the vid - racism towards Pepe as well. He's a real nasty piece of work - would we really want to go there again .....
and the chavs called Suarez flat track bully Costa is more of a nut bag than Suarez guaranteed. please log in to view this image
Nut bag, far worse than Suarez, headbut on Momo Sissoko then Sissoko smacks him one. please log in to view this image
Plastic Spaniard with a plastic knee playing for a plastic club with plastic fans waving plastic flags lucky not to have plastic cards waved in his melted plastic face #plastic
All the chav fans are talking like Hendo was taking his life in his own hands. I would smack Costa, that ugly ****'s nothing tasty. Just because he is rabid, doesn't make him hard.
Agreed , he's not hard just a bit unhinged. Anyhow I'd kick his **** in, as I would to anyone. I am the best fighter on the internet 1983 -1999 , 2001 - Present I wasnt online in 2000 as I was up a mountain surrounded by cans of beans <y2k>
Maybe Chelsea fans can now understand why we overlooked suarez antics beause they are sure not making an issue of Costa's far worse behaviour. Even the Skrtel forearm, clearly Costa has eyes only for Skrtel and Skrtel only eyes for the ball and Costa goes to barge Skrtel as he jumps for the ball. Yet they see that as Skrtel attacking Costa, ****ing laughable. Costa had been barging into Skrtel's back since the last league game. Costa is by far the dirtiest player in the PL. The guy spits, bites, kicks, heabutts, pulls hair?! and all manner of sly barges in the back and the like.
