Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and the Chelsea striker Diego Costa were involved in a tunnel bust-up following their clubs’ 1-1 draw at Anfield on Tuesday. The pair clashed as the teams left the pitch at full-time, in a row that was brewing during the Capital One Cup semi-final spilling over near the dressing rooms.
A Liverpool member of staff was forced to intervene to separate the pair, although witnesses insist that the spat was limited to an angry verbal confrontation and a bit of shoving. There was no punches thrown during the altercation.
Henderson had clashed with Costa in the second half of the first leg, the Liverpool vice-captain accusing the Brazilian-born Spain international of diving in the penalty area. Costa responded angrily to defend himself and the pair could be seen appearing to arrange a post-match meeting out of public view.
It has since emerged that the two players were true to their word, neither man prepared to give an inch as the teams left the pitch and continued their disagreement.
Costa’s temperamental on-field persona will make it unsurprising he took the gauntlet from a rival, but Henderson – for so long a mild-mannered member of the Liverpool team – is evidently relishing his senior responsibilities since being made Steven Gerrard’s deputy.
The England midfielder is in the process of trying to convince Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, that he should take the captain’s armband on a permanent basis once Gerrard has left Anfield for Major League Soccer, and this may be seen as sign of his growing leadership qualities.
It all adds to the tension and theatre ahead of the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.
Fixtures between Liverpool and Chelsea have a history of such antagonism, rooted in the epic Champions League struggles when Jose Mourinho first arrived in English football.
There has never been much love lost between the clubs, although the Chelsea manager was in respectful mood to his rivals before and after the game, heaping praise on the Liverpool captain Gerrard and generously applauding the Kop support in his post-match press conference.
Mourinho said that he hoped the Chelsea fans would back their side with the same dynamism as Liverpool’s supporters get behind theirs.
It would seem such goodwill has not extended to both sets of players and – aware of the background – the match officials will now be keeping a watchful eye on any incidents between Henderson and Costa when the clubs meet for the decisive second leg.
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