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Chelsea’s main man Diego Costa could have been a hero at Anfield and was lined up to partner Luis Suarez up front.

My word, imagine that.

Costa, 26, has revealed to the Daily Mirror that he came close to joining the Reds back in 2013 after Liverpool triggered the $30 million release clause in his contract.

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The Spanish international striker turned down Liverpool and remained at Atletico to

“I was close to leaving Atletico,” Costa said. “Liverpool are a great team, but after fighting so hard and overcoming difficulties to get my place at Atletico, how could I leave? I thought it was very important to keep growing with Atletico and to play there for many years.”

Costa has scored 17 times for Chelsea this season as he leads the Premier League in goals scored, with the Brazilian-born forward a major success in his first season in England. Costa scored Chelsea’s winning goal in a 2-1 win at Anfield earlier this season and the two sides meet in west London on May 9.

Of course, there is plenty of controversy that comes with Costa as his recent three-game ban for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can in the League Cup semifinal proved. With Suarez already a stunning striker and the main man at Anfield but a liability with his on-field antics, perhaps it was a good thing Costa decided to turn down Liverpool and remain in Spain.

Then again, imagine if Costa and Suarez were paired up front during the 2013-14 season at Anfield? Surely a first-ever Premier League title would have arrived instead of the Reds finishing second.

What could have been Liverpool fans, what could have been…

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