It pains me to disagree with someone as wise as Pat Nevin, but I'm not the greatest fan of Manchester United and Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze.
For a start (and I suspect that Heinze would agree if pressed) I don't think of him as being a genuine full-back -at least in a side that wants to impose itself on the game.
United badly missed the attacking threat and capacity to hit the bye-line of Patrice Evra in the FA Cup final defeat at Wembley and during the Champions League semi-final defeat in Milan.
And in Heinze's favoured position in the centre of defence, to my mind he falls short of top class - not quite commanding enough in the air, and liable to go to ground too early.
His mauling at the hands of Kaka in the San Siro was not the first time he had come off second best against Brazilian opposition.
He was similarly exposed in a World Cup qualifier three years ago when Argentina lost 3-1 to Brazil, and in the 4-1 defeat in the final of the 2005 Confederations Cup.
But if he is not going to make it into my world 11, Heinze is a good player with a number of virtues.
One of them is his mental strength.
There was a moment in Milan recently that illustrates the point.
Kaka beat Heinze to score at Old Trafford against Man Utd
United were already two goals down, when Kaka picked up possession in the danger zone, with only Heinze between him and the goal.
At this stage in the game, charging towards the United number four, the psychological balance was all with Kaka.
He had every reason to have his tail up, and Heinze could be excused a feeling of despondency.
But Heinze kept his nerve, kept his eye on the ball and produced a textbook tackle of which Bobby Moore would have been proud.
The secret - one on which the Liverpool centre-backs have surely been dwelling - was that Heinze managed to slow Kaka down.
First he put doubts in Kaka's mind, then he came away with the ball.
The Brazilian thrives on defenders diving in and committing themselves.
He is so sharp, and so quick, that if the defender makes an ill-judged lunge for the ball he is away, with no chance of catching him up.
To render Kaka ineffective, Liverpool will hope to stop his supply at source - by getting a grip on Clarence Seedorf
A few years ago the defender had a good chance if he forced Kaka on to his left foot.
But that's not so easy these days.
Great professional that he is, Kaka has been working on his weaker side.
The defender can think he is safe and still be on the end of an unpleasant surprise.
Keeping him quiet for a full 90 (and perhaps 120) minutes is nowadays a supreme test of defensive organisation and technique.
Another Brazil v Argentina contest will be at the heart of the battle in Athens.
Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez will clearly not make the same mistake he made two years ago, when, with no holding midfielder in the first half, his Liverpool side let Kaka run amok.
On Wednesday night, Kaka can expect to see plenty of Javier Mascherano.
By coincidence, the last time they met was also two years ago, in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.
Argentina won 3-1, and their paths hardly crossed.
Mascherano will have a key role in stopping Kaka
Mascherano was more concerned with Ronaldinho, while Juan Pablo Sorin picked up Kaka.
There was plenty for the Argentina defence to worry about. Adriano and Robinho were also part of the Brazil attack.
This is different. Milan are Kaka's team.
Mascherano will take the field focused on rendering him ineffective.
To do so Liverpool will hope to stop his supply at source, mainly by getting a grip on Clarence Seedorf.
They will aim to squeeze Kaka's space to prevent him from building up a head of steam.
But if he does get away and is charging towards goal, then the centre-backs' best bet is to recall that moment during a match which will certainly not be one of Heinze's favourites - their priority should be to slow Kaka down.
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