OK, we all know how classy Milan are.
They can knock the ball around more slickly than other team because they know each other better than any other team.
Possession is the first principle of play and they're so good at possession that they can play keep-ball blindfolded.
Indeed, AC Milan 2007 demonstrate the most accomplished teamwork in football today, smoother than Man United, more rhythmic than Chelsea, more reliable than Barcelona, more mature than Real Madrid.
We know they've been concentrating on the Champions League while coasting into fourth place in Serie A, And we know that the incomparable Kaka has put Celtic, Bayern and Man United to the sword.
And we know that Seedorf isn't bad as a goalscorer and goalmaker. He scored the first against Bayern in Munich from Kaka's pass, flicked Inzaghi through for the second. And it's at a neutral venue, not Anfield.
So why do I fancy Liverpool ?
Because of Peter Crouch and Javier Mascherano, two players who did not play two years ago in Istanbul.
Because if anybody can work out how to nullify Kaka and Seedorf, it's Rafa Benitez.
Because if a big game is tight, I always back the team with the better goalkeeper. Reina is in his prime while Dida has seen better days.
Because Milan are two years older and without Crespo and Shevchenko. Because the Maldini family have won enough medals. Four wins in eight European Cup finals is about right for lucky Paulo, a thoroughbred athlete who is fit and plays at centreback these days.
When Manchester United fans used to give Robbie Fowler fierce abuse he just grinned and held up four fingers.
They knew what he meant : You've won two European Cups, we've won four. That is now five and it could become six when Liverpool beat the team that beat Man United in the semi-final. If you're a scouser, how good is that ?
As you know, Robbie Fowler went to Istanbul as a fan to support Liverpool in 2005, along with Steve McManaman and Steve Harkness.
Reina is one of five brothers and the only footballer. But his father Miguel was a goalkeeper with Athletico Madrid who played in the 1974 final against Bayern Munich that finished 1-1. Then Bayern ripped them to shreds in the replay, winning 4-0. Uli Hoeness flew down the field like a missile.
I remember watching that game on the box with my Scottish flatmate John Mair and we were amazed by the pace of the Bayern attack. Mair said, "If this is football, what have we been watching every week?"
Milan legend Marcel Desailly and his 1994 teamates, who beat Barcelona 4-0 in Athens, have been invited to the match. Two years ago I watched that video and noted that three of Milan came from pressing, from forcing mistakes in the Barcelona half. Desailly's fourth goal was one of those.
Pressing is attacking when you don't have the ball. Pressing wins games. We could see Liverpool pressing Milan especially if busy Dirk Kuyt is detailed to harass playmaker Pirlo. A victory would be fairytale for Mascherano, after the traumatic six months he had at West Ham. Signing him was a masterstroke by Benitez.
Rafa's teamsheet will be the main source of interest at 6.45.Will his midfield be Alonso-Mascherano? Is it Kewell or Zenden? Pennant on the right?
In Istanbul, as it turned out, the first goal was not important. Neither was the second goal.
But in Athens the first goal WILL be important.
I'm sure of that and I'm sure Milan will not take a 3-0 lead. Man United led 3-2 and went to the San Siro and played 4-3-3 and got dismantled and thrashed 3-0.
Liverpool will never do that under Rafa because you will never see his team trying to play three against five in midfield, home or away or neutral.
Of course, you can never rule out Kaka scoring -he is a fabulous two-footed footballer.And Pippo Inzaghi is the craftiest player in the Champions League. But my gut feeling is that Finnan and Riise will cross good balls for Crouch and shake the old boys up a lot. Crouch is an under-rated footballer, as I noted when he was sold to Liverpool.And Mascherano is a master of the well-timed tackle and interception, good enough to take the ball off Kaka and Seedorf just outside the box.
Obviously, if German referee Herbert Frandel gives a free-kick to Milan every time Crouch jumps, Liverpool cannot win. But I don't think Frandel will fall for the subtle, systematic cheating of the Italians.
Last summer Italy fought to defend their "honour" after a match-fixing scandal that sickened everyone who cares about sport, and they won the World Cup.
Juventus were relegated and Milan had points deducted.But, as we expected in that corrupt country, an appeal allowed Milan and others to have some points restored and Milan were then allowed to participate in this Champions League.
That should not have happened. And that is another reason why I hope Liverpool win.