1. Because they already did it while playing really poorly in Istanbul two years ago. They cannot be as bad now, so it is going to be easier.

2. Because Hernan Crespo is still in Milano, but on the other side of the city. So who is going to score a brace, or even a single goal, for Milan? The old-age home pensioner Fillipo Inzaghi? The sombre, negligent, clumsy Alberto Gilardino? They are both in such a poor state of mind and attacking prowess that Carlo Ancelloti will choose not the better of the two, but the less rusty.

3. Because, yeh I know, you are pointing at Kaka and Clarence Seedorf as match winners. Well, possibly. Kaka is a superstar and Seedorf has his moments here and there. But don’t forget that while Wesley Brown, Nemanja Vidic and Gabriel Heinze failed miserably in containing the Brazilian and the Dutchman, this time the job belongs to Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano, and it will be the Italian Job perfected by the English (and Argentinian).

4. Because Milan reached their peak in the semi-finals, and such top quality is not only rare (it did not show up through an entire season in Serie A) but so, so difficult to repeat in consecutive matches.

5. Because Liverpool fans have received no more than 17,000 tickets for the final. But how many Scousers do you think will be in the stands in Athens? I predict almost twice the amount of Rossoneris, and a volume of  decibels of You'll Never Walk Alone which will reach and shake the Olympus as if there is not an Italian soul around.

6. Because the Red Devils from Manchester had only ground troops of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney's sort to try to penetrate the Milan defence, whereas The Reds will employ the aerial bombardment power of Peter Crouch to unsettle Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.

7. Because the Anfield Dutchman is going to be much more effective and significant than the San Siro Dutchman. Watch out for Dirk Kuyt winning the Man of The Match award. Look forward to Thursday headlines like 'Dear Cup', 'Double Dutch' and 'Dirk and the Glorinos'.

8. Because Rafa Benitez has learnt that he is actually allowed to send 11 players onto the pitch for the second half (at half-time in Istanbul, he put only 10 names on the board).

9. Because Milan should not have even been allowed into the competition this time. Only dirty politics, usual UEFA favouritism, let the Rossoneri in the back door in spite of their Calciopoli wrong-doings and punishment in Italy.

10. Because Pepe Reina is a million times better than Dida, even without penalties.

11. Because Paolo Maldini has announced he will play on for another season. So he will have another chance.

12. Because everybody, but everybody, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, is not only rooting for Milan, but also sure as hell that the Rossoneri will clinch it easily this time. But reality, in truth, likes to bite mainly those who are ever confident and convinced.

Can  Liverpool really do it? Leave a comment below or, better still, write an article for Sportingo.