da leao： With the news emerging that last January, Liverpool met the release clause of, then Atletico Madrid striker, Diego Costa. We now look at what might have been, had the striker opted for Merseyside red, rather than West London Blue…..
da cassino： It seems strange to think that ‘Super Diego’ only signed for Liverpool 14 months ago. With all that has happened since, it seems like he has been there a lifetime. So how has his first year at Anfield gone?
Signed on ‘Diego Deadline Day’ as it is now affectionately known in Merseyside, Costa needed to make an instant impact, and how he did. After Kolo Toure had gifted West Bromwich Albion an equaliser with only 25 minutes to go, the Spaniard came off the bench to endear himself to the travelling support with an injury time brace to ensure his new side gathered all three points.
The goals continued to flow for Costa during a super run for the club which saw them chalk eleven straight wins, which took them to the precipice of the title. One particular highlight was his hat-trick at home to title rivals Manchester City, seriously denting their hopes of winning their second title. Of course the game also saw the notorious stamp, ending Vincent Kompany’s season.
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All seemed destined for the three pronged attack of Suarez, Sturridge and Costa to propel their team to a first title in over twenty years. Then all the hard work seemed to be undone, the two star men, Suarez and Costa were involved in a training ground bust up, punches were thrown and bridges were burned. Luis Suarez of course would not play another game for the club and the burden of a title challenge was placed on the shoulders of Diego.
Now to Chelsea at home.
The game where one moment swung the title race. Steven Gerrard slipped in midfield leaving Demba Ba a free run on goal, he had to score, he didn’t. Straight into the keeper’s arms, and following a quick throw out Diego Costa was smashing his side into the lead. A lead they would hold on to.
A further brace at Crystal Palace extinguished a rousing fight back from the hosts and Liverpool had done it. A first league title since 1990. Although the whole team fought to ensure the title would be heading to Anfield, it is fair to say had Costa not signed, Liverpool may have missed out on the biggest prize.
Following this, buoyed by his first campaign in England, he spearheaded Spain to an unprecedented fourth consecutive major tournament win, winning the Golden Boot in the process.
Then we move to this season, when the rest of the team struggled, he flourished, dragging his team to many points, which has set up this year’s campaign, as they canter to a second successive title.
If only a team like Chelsea could have signed him, with Mourinho now out of a job he could have only wished for a player like Costa. But alas he is a Liverpool player and quite rightly a modern day Liverpool legend.
Here is to years more of Super Diego.
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