PICS: Today’s sports pages are not happy with Diego Costa

'Stampford Bridge anyone

Diego Costa was once again the pantomime villain for Liverpool in their 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the Capital Cup semi final second leg, which saw them dumped out of the competition 2-1 on aggregate. The striker was involved in three incidents during the game-firstly appearing to stamp down on Emre Chan's leg after 11 minutes and then in the second half also apperaing to put his weight down on Martin Skertel's shin when trying to hurdle a challenge by the centre-half. He also got involved in a bit of MMA style wresting line with Steven Gerrard which did earn him a booking and this morning's sport pages  are unsurprisingly chock-full of  the Brazilian born Spanish striker. The Liverpool Echo is direct in its appraisal of where it went wrong for the Reds

Valiant effort by the Reds last night: @Kristian_Walsh on what we learned from #CFC 1 #LFC 0 http://t.co/uoc1hBjn5Q pic.twitter.com/FqTUWpBmyT — Liverpool Echo (@LivEchoLFC) January 28, 2015  

The Daily Express goes for the obvious with a brilliant picture of Skertel and Costa getting up close and personal after the second stamping incident after half-time:

EXPRESS SPORT: Costa puts the boot in #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/OLxdOrCySq — Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 27, 2015

This is definetly our favourite though as the Mirror outdo themselves in the sub-editing department. Top marks for effort:

MIRROR SPORT: Stampford Bridge #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/DVZlhfhxqx — Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 27, 2015

Costa wasn't taken to task for any of the stamping incidents during the game by referee Michael Oliver but the Times reports that he could be facing a retrospective ban for his bold-boy behaviour: 

TIMES SPORT: Costa likely to face stamping ban #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/ZwM0HQ77xZ — Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 27, 2015

The Daily Mail also go with the 'coming togther' we'll call it of the Liverpool man and the abrasive striker after the alleged stamp in the second half:

MAIL SPORT: Nutters! #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/PVbI5SCXvr — Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 27, 2015

Jose Mourinho of course denied all knowledge after the game and said that any alleged stamp by Costa was accidental. Chelsea face Manchester City on Saturday and any ban by the FA may rule him out of that game if they decide to act against the top scorer in the Premier League.