West Brom defender Jonas Olsson has played down his on-field spat with Steven Gerrard in Liverpool's 2-0 win at The Hawthorns.
Olsson hit out at the England international in first-half stoppage-time on Sunday as he thought the Reds' maestro had dived under a challenge in search of a penalty.
The 26-year-old Swedish stopper says the incident has not diminished his respect for the Liverpool playmaker, saying he still regards him as one of the world's best.
Olsson has conceded his display at the back end of the game was not quite up to scratch, although he feels defenders are always going to come off second best against the likes of Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt.
"I screamed at him, 'You're too good to dive like that'," Olsson told Aftonbladet. "He said that he didn't dive and that it was a penalty.
"There is always banter going on during the game, especially in the heat of the moment. But I have the utmost respect for Gerrard. He is one of the best players in the world.
"It is one-on-one at the end. During the last half hour, I faced Gerrard, Torres and Kuyt, that means there will be chances. When Kuyt made it 2-0 I wasn't perfect, but it is a tough situation."
Olsson hit out at the England international in first-half stoppage-time on Sunday as he thought the Reds' maestro had dived under a challenge in search of a penalty.
The 26-year-old Swedish stopper says the incident has not diminished his respect for the Liverpool playmaker, saying he still regards him as one of the world's best.
Olsson has conceded his display at the back end of the game was not quite up to scratch, although he feels defenders are always going to come off second best against the likes of Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt.
"I screamed at him, 'You're too good to dive like that'," Olsson told Aftonbladet. "He said that he didn't dive and that it was a penalty.
"There is always banter going on during the game, especially in the heat of the moment. But I have the utmost respect for Gerrard. He is one of the best players in the world.
"It is one-on-one at the end. During the last half hour, I faced Gerrard, Torres and Kuyt, that means there will be chances. When Kuyt made it 2-0 I wasn't perfect, but it is a tough situation."
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