The race for the Premier League title began to heat up seriously over the weekend as Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez cranked up the psychological war of words with his astounding Friday rant.
Amidst all the accusations, the "facts" and the conspiracy theories that have been flying around since Bentiez's Friday outburst, Liverpool's iconic striker, Spaniard Fernando Torres, has spoken out about how he believes that Manchester United are still favourites to claim the crown come the end of the season.
"Firstly United have two games in hand and if they win both they will be top of the League. That is certainly possible for a team of their quality," Torres told The Daily Telegraph.
"We respect them totally for the class of players they have. Many of them are among the best in the world. They're the clear favourites to win the title. We're working hard to compete with them and finish above them, and we're on course to achieve that.
"We know the chances we have. We have to go to Old Trafford and we will play Arsenal and Chelsea at home and we shouldn't drop more points like the other day. I think United have their chances as do Chelsea and Liverpool. We have to fight till the end and we'll see what happens. Few teams can win the Premier League today and we can be champions this year."
Torres feels that the game on March 14, when Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to face the current champions, will be the key moment in deciding the ultimatedestination of the trophy this season.
"I think the game at Old Trafford will decide the title. If everything goes as we expect we think we will go there in a similar position to now for that game. We will have to play our game to try and get a result in a ground which in the last few years has not been good for Liverpool," Torres added.
As for the war of words betwen his manager and Sir Alex Ferguson, Torres had little to say, preferring to leave it to the gaffers to fight it out between themselves.
"The statements the managers make are off the pitch where they play their own league. I don't know their motives, it's their own thing. So I can't say much," the Spaniard explained, before speaking of the importance of winning the title to the people of the city of Liverpool, those that don't support Everton anyway.
"Of course I know how important it is for the city and the fans to win the League after 19 years," he added.
"From the day I arrived it was clear to me that the most important competition to win is the League, even more than the Champions League. I know we have a great opportunity. We're fighting with Manchester [United] and Chelsea to win it this year. We have our chances as do the others. We will fight till the end and we will try to finally win this title for the club that has not won it for such a long time and to continue being the team with the most titles in England."
Zack Wilson, Goal.com
