Chelsea striker Diego Costa comes up trumps in battle of the gladiators

Power: Diego Costa’s gladiatorial feats run the risk of the occasional wear and tear

It is little wonder that Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid manager, dubbed Diego Costa “The Beast”, an affectionate nickname fit for purpose. The Atletico manager spoke of the hardship and pain which had formed the sheer passion and indomitable determination to win in Costa. It originates from his arduous upbringing in the poverty-laden streets of the Brazilian north-east, in Lagarto and a dearth of genuine belief in his ability. On too many occasions, he was marginalised and disregarded.

This is why is he will not give anything up. Literally.

For much of this enthralling encounter, Diego Costa and Martin Skrtel were locked in an intense physical battle. A push, a shove, a ripped shirt and a yellow card for the Chelsea striker.

And a goal.

This was a battle of the gladiators in the unfamiliar setting that is Anfield. The mercurial Costa emerged triumphant, conquering his detested sparring partner Skrtel with an accomplished goal to seal three points for Chelsea as their title challenge threatened to revert to a victory procession.

Chelsea are revving towards the title and Costa is a vital element of the formidable component that is Chelsea.

He bewildered Liverpool’s defence, adding to his tally of ten goals. His goal was the winner here, pouncing on the costly disinclination of the Liverpool resistance and strengthing Chelsea’s grip on the Premier League with a drilled finish. Needing time to settle in? Costa, without hesitation, is making a mockery of that famous football cliché.

Jose Mourinho’s ‘missing piece’

The 26 year-old is vindicating his £32 million transfer fee, vindicating Jose Mourinho’s unerring faith. Acquired as an antidote to Chelsea’s goal-scoring malaise, Costa has taken no time to assert his potency, assert the mercurial excellence which endeared him to Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone. “The Beast”? The gladiator.

A seemingly indomitable passion for football and its winning values emanates from Costa’s trail. The striker has endeavoured greatly to be where he is, championed as one of the best strikers in the Premier League and nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or accolade.

Offloaded on loan on several painful occasions as the venerated likes of Sergio Aguero and Radamel Falcao shone at Atletico, Costa has not always been one to benefit from faith and belief. Chelsea, and Mourinho, are different, though.

He is thriving at Chelsea, showing why he attracted the meticulous gazes of a plethora of vaunted European powerhouses. Costa should have arrived embossed with the word ‘SUITABILITY’, tailor-made for the unique adversities posed by the Premier League. Strength, skill, technique, endeavour and goals – Costa is the gladiator with it all.

Lone threat for Chelsea

Deployed as Mourinho’s lone striker and supported by Eden Hazard, Oscar and the buccaneering Ramires, Costa assumed a roaming role, moving to the left and unleashing a strike which was thwarted by his Slovakian nemesis, Skrtel.

The Iberian-Brazilian was subdued for much of the first-half, only asserting his potency in sprints and bursts. He was, though, concerning Skrtel, engaging in a physical bout with the Liverpool centre-half and receiving a warning from referee Anthony Taylor.

A constant menace

Costa was rejuvenated after the break, showing signs of asserting his lethal goal-scoring powers on this permeable Liverpool defence. His wonderfully improved overhead kick, under Dejan Lovren’s presence, flew narrowly over the crossbar and into the Kop. He continued to threaten, dispossessing Lovren with ease and sparking yet another Chelsea counter attack.

He would, however, convert menace into goals. His winning goal was an example of what had made him an instant hit in the Premier League.

Willian’s crossfield pass from deep, to Cesar Azpilicueta, was good but the Spaniard’s touch exuded perfection, keeping the ball in play and bewildering Emre Can. Costa had already made his move, a penetrative dart in-between the disinclined defensive pairing of Skrtel and Lovren, and pounced on their hesitation, firing home Chelsea’s eventual winner.

Costa was relentlessly troubling Lovren, speeding beyond the Croatian and delivering an enticing pull-back to Hazard, the Belgian’s strike thwarted decisively by Skrtel.

Leading through his 67th minute strike, Costa was tracking back, perhaps too eagerly when he cynically poleaxed the advancing Glen Johnson and received a caution.

As the culmination of this thrilling encounter rapidly approached, Costa was left writhing on the turf having collapsed under Skrtel’s presence and replaced by Drogba, such are the wealth of riches at Mourinho’s enviable disposal.

Costa departed, having come up trumps in the battle of the gladiators.