David Moyes responded to Liverpool star who tried to mock him in perfect way

The Merseyside Derby is never short of dramatic incidents, but one clash between Liverpool and Everton in 2012 has gone down in history for an iconic celebration by ex-Reds forward Luis Suarez

The Merseyside Derby has been the stage for countless unforgettable moments, with the 247th showdown scheduled for Saturday lunchtime. Yet, one of the most iconic incidents involves former Liverpool star Luis Suarez and a legendary celebration that’s etched in derby history.

For arguably the most comical moment in this historic match, you need to travel back to 28 October 2012. Liverpool were squaring off against Everton at Goodison Park in the season’s first all-Merseyside clash.

On the eve of the encounter, Everton manager David Moyes, in his initial tenure with the Toffees, stirred up controversy by criticising Suarez for going to ground too easily in their previous encounter. Suarez had theatrically fallen over the previous season, resulting in Jack Rodwell being sent off – a decision that was later overturned.

Moyes’ remarks seemed to ignite a fiery performance from the contentious Uruguayan. Just 14 minutes into the game, Suarez made his feelings about Moyes’ comments clear after he managed to slot the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Although the goal was later attributed to Leighton Baines due to a slight deflection, Liverpool’s then-number seven didn’t seem bothered. He quickly darted over to Moyes in Everton’s technical area to dramatically throw himself on the ground in front of the Scot, arms spread wide.

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Suarez netted again moments later, before Everton battled back through Leon Osman and Steven Naismith to claim a share of the spoils for the Toffees.

While numerous other bosses might have been furious at Suarez’s antics, Moyes showed his class and wit during his post-match press conference.

“I thought it was great,” Moyes said when quizzed about Suarez’s celebration. “I’d have probably done the same if I had been the player, but he’s going to have to dive in front of a lot of managers I think so I might have done the same to him. If we’d won 3-2 I might have done one in front of him as well.”

The Scotsman even seized the moment to criticise his own player for what he viewed as simulation during the match. He continued: “Phil Neville went down too easily, and I told him about it so if you go down easy then as a manager you should tell them and you don’t want to get a reputation for being that sort of player.”

Before kick-off, Moyes had aired his views on the darker aspects of Suarez’s conduct. “I’ve got concerns about Suarez, yes – because he’s got history and these people are very good at it,” he said.

“Last year was a dive, and the referee made a really poor decision that ruined the game after 15 minutes. Look, when you’re out to manufacture results, supporters don’t like it.”

Everton was a favourite opponent for Suarez, with the enigmatic striker netting five goals and providing four assists in six matches against the Blues. He never tasted defeat against them, and his celebration in the 2012 tie remains one of the most enduring images in Merseyside Derby history.

Liverpool will welcome Everton to Anfield on Saturday, with the reigning Premier League champions boasting a perfect record of four wins from four league games. However, Everton have started the new season strongly, securing consecutive victories over Brighton and Wolves before last weekend’s goalless draw with Aston Villa.

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