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Fernando Torres has admitted that he played through the pain barrier to be one of Liverpool's heroes in the victory over Manchester United.

The Reds recorded a 2-0 win at Anfield on Sunday as their star striker lifted himself off the treatment table to score the opener before David Ngog wrapped up the win.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez decided on the bus to the game that he was going to start Torres, who had only taken part in light training and required a pain-killing injection to overcome a groin problem.

Prolific striker Fernando Torres is hoping Spain can accessorise their new records with the Confederations Cup crown.

La Roja equaled Brazil's 35-match unbeaten run and became the first international team to notch up 15 successive wins in a 2-0 victory over Bafana Bafana and the 25-year-old wants silverware to accompany their feats.

Since winning Euro 2008 - the nation's first major trophy in 44 years - Spain have been at the summit of FIFA's world rankings and Torres believes this bodes well for the team ahead of the World Cup.

RAFAEL BENITEZ concedes it is “strange” that a host of landmark achievements will almost certainly not be enough to win the title for Liverpool.

But the Anfield manager believes it would have been a different story had Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard been in tandem for longer periods of the campaign.

“It is strange,” said Benitez. “It means United are a strong team and have a good team.

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Fernando Torres will be fit for the Manchester United game that could put Liverpool back into the title-race.

Torres said: “I feel good. My ankle felt a little bit painful in the second half against Real but that doesn’t matter in a match like this.

“We will work hard for the rest of this week and I think I will be 100 per cent for Saturday.”

Torres saluted manager Rafa Benitez following the 4-0 win over Real.

Spanish newspaper Sport recently reported that Barcelona could launch a summer transfer campaign to bring Liverpool hitman Fernando Torres to Camp Nou.

The striker looked sharp during the first half of Spain's 2-0 win over England on Wednesday evening, lasting an hour of the fixture before being substituted. After the game, the Spanish publication caught up with him in order to quiz him on the Barca rumours.

Although he responded briefly, there did seem to be a twinkle of interest in the voice of ‘El Nino’, who said, "Barcelona? It would be a pleasure to play with [Lionel] Messi.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has demanded his team-mates 'step up a gear' in the Premier League title race.

The Reds were overtaken by fierce rivals Manchester United at the table's summit on Saturday as Dimitar Berbatov struck late on to sink Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Chelsea's last-gasp victory over Stoke also piled the pressure on Rafa Benitez's side - who drew with Stoke in their last outing - ahead of Monday's crunch Merseyside derby.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has not ruled out the possibility of returning to former club Atletico Madrid and complete some unfinished business, but he insists it will not happen any time soon.

Torres earned legendary status at Atletico during his 12 years there before moving to Liverpool in 2007.

"I don't know if I will retire there, but I would like to go back and finish some things that are left to do," said Torres.

"When I was there I couldn't do any more, but I would like to go back.

"I hope to experience many things still, but for me it is an exceptional club."

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has urged Fernando Torres to listen to his head, not his heart, when making the final decision on whether he will play against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Torres has been mired to the sidelines since October 15, when he tore his hamstring during Spain's World Cup qualifier against Belgium.

The injury forced the 24-year-old striker to miss what would have been a special return to the Vicente Calderon two weeks ago, but he is a genuine chance to feature when Atletico visit Anfield tomorrow evening.