Maldini expects Milan win

Paolo Maldini believes Milan's experience will be too much for Liverpool.

Milan play Liverpool in Istanbul on Wednesday for the right to be crowned European champions and Maldini is expecting his side to hold sway.

The Milan captain, who lifted the Champions League trophy two years ago, is happy that the Rossoneri have been labelled favourites for the match.

Maldini has amassed a wealth of medals, and experience, during his distinguished career and he feels he and his team-mates will have too much nous for their Premiership opponents.

"Everybody says we are the favourites to lift the trophy and so what?" Maldini told skysports.com.

"I see nothing strange in that as we have never been the underdogs throughout these years.

"We are certainly more used to these crucial events than The Reds are.

"That can be a decisive factor as, when you play for the European crown, mental factors become deadly important."

Milan head to Turkey on the back of losing their Serie A title to Juventus but they will be as fresh-legged as Liverpool after Carlo Ancelotti rested all his key players for Friday's draw against Palermo.

Veteran defender Maldini believes the return of the star names will give Milan the edge but he is expecting a tough test against a Liverpool side who have already knocked Juventus and Chelsea out of the competition.

He added: "I can say we are better than Liverpool but when the victory is decided by a single match anything can happen.

"I expect a very tough game. We will take control of the ball, as usual, but they will do everything they can to stop us from being dangerous in the midfield zone as they did against Juventus and Chelsea.

"I think both teams are very good in defence but we are much more attack-minded and our strikers may prove decisive for the final result."