Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman can still remember the moment now.
It was Sunday, October 28, 2012, and Luis Suarez had just played a major role in Liverpool taking the lead against Everton. The game was being played at Goodison Park.
Clearly angered by David Moyes' remarks in the build-up to the match, a smiling Suarez ran towards the then Everton manager. What came next was became a somewhat iconic Premier League moment.
READ MORE: Sean Dyche gives blunt assessment of Everton record at Liverpool
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp launches passionate defence of Liverpool backroom staff
Suarez turned to the dugouts, pointing in Moyes' direction, before throwing himself into the air in a swallow dive and landing on the touchline in front of the Scot.
Moyes stormed out of his seat and a number of items were thrown onto the field in the minutes after the goal. It was a moment for the history books and it all started on the Friday before the 219th Merseyside derby.
“I would (be concerned about Suarez) because I think he has got history,” Moyes told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
“But I am not the referee, I am not the one that (makes decisions). But I tell you what - it will turn the supporters away from football if they think players are conning their way to results.”
When Moyes was asked if his comments were directed at Suarez in particular, he replied: “It is generally. I think it is a discussion to be had. I don't think supporters like the idea of players going down easily.”
Suarez had clearly been listening to what Moyes had to say and responded in the most effective way possible. Five minutes later, Suarez scored a second for Liverpool.
This time, though, the forward’s celebration was more traditional, but Blues supporters inside Goodison Park were stunned by what they were witnessing.
However, Everton, to their credit, scored twice before half-time - through Leon Osman and Steven Naismith - to ensure they claimed a point from the game. But all the talk post-match was about Suarez.
"I thought it was great, I would probably have done the same," Moyes said post-match. "But he is going to have to dive in front of a lot of managers now."
Speaking three years after the incident occurred, Moyes joked that had Everton scored a late winner he would have run on to the pitch and dived in front of Suarez.
“The game went to 2-2 and I can remember saying if we scored the late winner I would have marked up a first for managers, because I would have run on to the pitch and dived in front of him,” he said.
“I had said that he was going down too easily, and fair play to him for his response. I don’t need to say what a top player he is and he’s not given enough credit for the way he works for the team.”
And when asked how the Everton dressing room reacted, Osman, speaking exclusively to the ECHO, revealed:“It was spoken about before the game. David Moyes was trying to alert the officials to the theatrics of Luis Suarez
“To be fair to Luis Suarez, he reacted in a funny way and David Moyes took it really well. He came out of his dugout and stood there on the side of the pitch. It was all handled really well and we just needed to respond on that day and we did.”
Osman then continued, saying: “It was a little bit of a funny one, although we had conceded it was a tongue in cheek moment, but it helped us respond as well.
“We had played well up until that point, but it was one of those moments that gives you that little bit extra if you needed it to help you respond.”
Osman, who after rising through the ranks at Everton went on to make 433 first-team appearances for the club, is a Merseyside derby veteran.
The now BBC Sport pundit played in 21 clashes against Liveprool, with his first coming back in 2004 when Lee Carsley scored the only goal of the game to secure the Blues a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche will take charge of his first tomorrow night as the Blues make the trip across Stanley Park to take on Jurgen Klopp’s side. The stakes are high.
Everton are in need of the points in a bid to avoid relegation to the Championship. Liverpool, on the other hand, are yet to win a league game this calendar year.
“Being a local lad, the Merseyside derby [build-up] starts when the fixtures come out and people are already asking you for tickets,” Osman told the ECHO when asked about the fixture.
“That then intensifies come derby week, especially as you know all of the city, not even half, all of the city’s mood for the next few months could be determined by something you do.
“Yeah maybe it does get a little bit more pressured because you know one thing can flip it either.
“But if you get it right and if you work together and if things go your way, it is going to make so many Evertonians happy and that has to be the aim.”
“For the local lads and local staff it is a huge game because they have it as well. They want Everton to win, but also don’t want their cousin to get one over on them.
“That is the case in Merseyside derbies and yeah it is discussed more. The players and staff are probably trying to make sure you leave it all out there.
“But you also have to make sure that you don’t get carried away. You don’t treat it too dissimilar to other games because ultimately it is a game of football.”
Leon Osman was speaking to the Liverpool ECHO at the launch of the William Hill’s new shop in Liverpool Central.
READ MORE:
- Ian Woan lifts lid on 'heated discussions' with Sean Dyche and reveals Everton talks at Burnley
- Udinese transfer chief opens up on why Everton Beto bid was 'turned down' during transfer window
- Sean Dyche lifts lid on Everton behind-closed-doors game as injured star nears return
- Everton may have just got the fighter and figurehead they desperately need
- Sean Dyche explains why he's opening Finch Farm doors to Everton legends
