David Moyes says he 'would have run on to the pitch and dived in front of Luis Suarez' following controversial celebration

Former Manchester United manager jokes about how he would have retaliated had Everton scored following 'dive' incident

October 2012: Celebrated a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes who had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game. (GETTY IMAGES)

David Moyes has joked that had Everton scored a late winner against Liverpool in a Merseyside derby in 2012, he would have run on to the pitch and dived in front of Luis Suarez.

The now Real Sociedad manager was mocked by the Uruguayan striker who after scoring at Goodison Park, ran over to Moyes and dived in front of him. The then Liverpool striker's celebration came after Moyes had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game.

Speaking to The Independent's Pete Jenson in a wide-ranging interview, Moyes recalls the incident and insists he took Suarez's joke well.

“I did,” he says. “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.

“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.”

Unfortunately, the match remained 2-2.

David Moyes (GETTY IMAGES)

Moyes is due to come up against Suarez when he takes his Real Sociedad team to the Nou Camp to play Barcelona at 5pm on Saturday with the former Manchester United manager certain to be keeping an eye out for diving - real or joke.