Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has put the boot into title rivals Manchester United after their FA Cup exit by insisting Barcelona will now win the Champions League.
The Spaniard is convinced that the Catalan giants have the strength and depth to beat either Manchester United or Arsenal in the final.
Torres was hoping to line-up against Barcelona in the semi-finals for Liverpool, but despite the Reds' best efforts in the quarters, it was Chelsea who went through 7-5 on aggregate.
He said: "Barcelona are clearly the best side in Europe.
"United’s squad of players is very impressive. You barely notice when they have players out.
"They have footballers like Tevez, Berbatov or Giggs on the bench, but even so I think that Barcelona would get the better of them.
"Manchester United suffer an awful lot if they don’t control possession.
"Barcelona have much more quality about them and no doubt if the two were to meet, Barca would have the lions-share of possession, and that would hurt United."
Torres has scored 47 goals in 79 matches for Liverpool and is hoping to guide the Reds to their first title since 1990.
Rafa Benitez' side trail Manchester United by one point who also have a game in hand, making the Red Devils favourites for the Premier League crown.
But that doesn't bother Torres who is more than happy for United to have the tag.
He said: "United are the champions and that carries the favourties tag, but I'd rather not be favourites.
"Being favourites doesn't make you champions, it just gives you extra pressure.
Liverpool are in a rich vein of form having scored 14 goals in their last four Premier League outings, while United have shown signs on wilting recently.
Torres, 25, added: "If we keep playing as well as we have been doing in this second half of the season then we have more chance of winning the league than anyone else.
"But let United carry the favourites burden; let them have the pressure."
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