Manchester City midfielder David Silva admits winning the Champions League is more difficult than lifting the Premier League - and has backed Liverpool to claim a sixth European Cup in Madrid.
Silva was an integral part of the City team that retained the championship earlier this month by holding off a strong challenge from the Reds to win by a solitary point.
City, though, fell short in the Champions League once again when beaten by finalists Tottenham Hotspur on away goals in the quarter-finals.
And in assessing the development of Pep Guardiola's side, Silva has intimated Liverpool winning Europe's top prize would be a greater achievement than City's title triumph.
"The club is growing more and more every year and now we're looking for success in the Champions League," he said.
"The Champions League is more difficult because it's a knockout competition. If you lose concentration in a game you can be knocked out and that's what happened to us.
"The league is more regular, you've got the whole year and we've been lucky enough to win the two cups.
"It's football. When you lose you've got to accept it just like when you win. We're professionals and we know it's really difficult."
Liverpool, who ended City's Champions League interest the previous campaign, finished 26 points ahead of Tottenham in the Premier League and beat the Londoners in both top-flight meetings.
But while fancying the Reds, Silva has warned to expect the unexpected in Madrid on June 1.
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"In theory, Liverpool are the favourites after the season they've had but anything can happen in the game," he told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
"We've already seen that this season the Champions League has been a bit crazy; last minute goals, comebacks. Anything can happen."
