Fernando Torres has told Liverpool fans they should blame the club's former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett for his decision to join Chelsea.
The Spanish centre forward angered Kopites by demanding a move in the closing stages of the January transfer window and then completing a British record £50 million switch to Chelsea.
Torres is likely to face a hostile reception when he makes his Blues debut against Liverpool today, but although he understands why the fans who used to idolise him may feel let down, the 26-year-old insisted there were good reasons for his exit.
In his first two seasons at Anfield, the Reds reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and finished as runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier League, but Torres believes the club then went backwards due to Hicks and Gillett.
He said: 'Then we were very, very close to being one of the top teams, but when you let Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano leave, it's a clear message.
'The old owners wanted to sell the club too many times and the team was being weakened.'
Torres added the Liverpool players never understood what ex-manager Roy Hodgson wanted them to do and that although Kenny Dalglish's arrival had given everyone at the club hope, the Scot's return came too late to persuade him his future should be at Anfield.
Liverpool used some of the money raised from the sale of Torres to sign Andy Carroll from Newcastle United in a £35 million deal.
However, Reds fans may have to wait until next season to see the England striker's debut, amid reports his thigh injury could keep him out for months.
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