Jurgen Klopp offered backhanded praise for Chelsea striker Diego Costa following Liverpool's 1-1 draw with the Premier League frontrunner at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
Following Georginio Wijnaldum's second-half equalizing goal, Costa won and subsequently missed a penalty that led Klopp to launch an angry outburst at fourth official Neil Swarbrick for which he later apologized.
"If I had played against Costa I could never be friends, that's how it is, but when you have him in your team it's much more fun. He is a warrior," Klopp told reporters including the BBC.
"What [Antonio] Conte is doing with Chelsea is outstanding but Chelsea without Costa this season?"
Costa's penalty, saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, kept Chelsea's lead over now second-placed Tottenham Hotspur at nine points.
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