Everton midfielder Ross Barkley has said he is not a diver -- because he believes footballers born and raised Liverpool do not cheat.
The England midfielder was booked for simulation by referee Andre Marriner after a challenge by Frank Lampard in the second half of Saturday's 1-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City.
Manager Roberto Martinez criticised the decision, which came two weeks after Barkley was embroiled in a diving controversy during the 2-1 home victory over West Ham.
On that occasion, the 21-year-old won a free-kick for going to ground even though replays showed that Hammers midfielder Kevin Nolan had not touched him.
Martinez said then -- as he did again after the City defeat -- that the player was not a diver.
And Barkley told the Liverpool Echo: "I don't ever intend to dive. I'm a Scouser -- we don't do things like that. It's frustrating."
The midfielder is concerned that he is getting an unfair reputation for cheating because of the incident against West Ham.
He said: "All the talk about what happened against West Ham, which I didn't even intend on doing, is having an effect.
"I was expecting contact. You could see that from my reaction in that game -- I got straight back up and tried to get on the ball, but the ref gave the free kick.
"I like driving forward with the ball, so every now and then I expect a bit of contact because I'm committing players.
"Against City, I was expecting the contact from Frank Lampard and there was contact. I thought it was a free-kick to us. I was disappointed the referee gave that as a foul and I got a yellow card.
"I was 100 percent certain it should have been a free-kick. The ref made his decision and said I dived -- but I don't think that's right."
Barkley, who came on as a second-half substitute against City, feels he is coming back to form after missing the opening two months of the season with a knee injury.
He said: "I feel much fitter now I've got some games under my belt. I feel like, from now on, I'm going to be playing much better for the rest of the season. I'm more confident than I have been in the last few games.
"I believe goals will come for me, too. I believe in my own ability. I scored goals last season, and I believe I will for the rest of my career as well.
"I've got to focus on doing things right in training and taking that onto the pitch."