Ferguson reveals bid to sign Torres</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> MANCHESTER (AFP) - Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he made several attempts to sign Fernando Torres, the Spanish striker who will spearhead Liverpool's attack against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. Torres was linked with United for years before finally moving to the Premier League from Atletico Madrid but it was Liverpool that managed to capture the 23-year-old in the summer. The Scot is not surprised to see Torres, who has scored 12 goals this season, flourishing in England and knows he has will be one of Rafael Benitez's main danger-men. "For years we tried to do a deal there but we never quite managed it either because Atletico Madrid didn't want to sell or the player felt he was too young one year," Ferguson said. "Then we just lost interest a bit because sometimes you get fed up with going back to the same venue all the time. "I think the advantage that Rafa had was that he is Spanish and his dealings with Atletico Madrid were maybe better than ours because he's Spanish. "He's a good player. We wouldn't have been interested in him if he wasn't." Ferguson says the trip to Anfield is the game he relishes most but despite Arsenal also playing Chelsea, he is keen to play down the overall significance of what has been dubbed "Super Sunday". He said: "No matter what position either club is in, it's always a big game and each season, it's always the game that I look forward to. "It encapsulates everything in British football, the passion of the fans, the ability of the footballers, the competition, the history of the two clubs. It's terrific so hopefully we can have another good game. "If we were all meeting in March or April it would be very significant in terms of the league but as it is we're at the halfway stage and we're talking about a title decider. There's time for whoever drops points, and it's possible that the four of us drop points with two draws. "The atmosphere helps the players. It's the sort of venue where the lambs are dead and you have to be men to handle their support over there. It's not easy. "Their support is always massive and it's been a big component over the years, particularly against United. You handle that and it improves your chances." Ferguson, who has also had to deal with American owners since the Glazer family took charge at Old Trafford in May 2005, has been bemused by the recent fall-out between Benitez and owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. He continued: "I can never understand where the criticism comes from. All of a sudden you read about a supposed dispute between Rafa and his directors and you don't understand it when you see the record that Rafa has got. "You ask yourself where that comes from and there's obviously some undercurrent of a dispute somewhere along the line but with Rafa's record, it's strange. He's won the European Cup and he's won the FA Cup. I think with Rafa's record, it will be disappointing for him. "I don't know what the situation is over there and I've got no idea about it at all." Ferguson has England midfielder Owen Hargreaves available following his recovery from a calf injury. Club captain Gary Neville will return to training next week after an ankle problem, and John O'Shea, United's match-winner at Anfield last season, is doubtful for the trip to Liverpool with a groin injury.</div></p>
