Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC One

New Zealand have been a bit bumpy. I don't think they've played at their best or found their game with this team.

Robbie Hunter-Paul
Former New Zealand international on BBC One

New Zealand have been lulling everyone into a false sense of security so Australia come in too cocky!

Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport at Anfield

Compared to the huge, wide-open spaces of London Stadium last weekend, Anfield feels almost intimate.

The pitch is definitely on the short side too, with it shortened to 91 metres for safety reasons.

Australia looking very professional and focused as they go through their preparations. Quite a contrast, their 17 very big men going through their warm-ups, 20 metres from a children's choir reworking several modern classics.

They're not taking any chances on the pre-match entertainment at Anfield. Cheerleaders. Check. Youth choir singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Check. We're a former X-Factor contestant singing the anthems away from a full set.

Image source, Rex Features

New Zealand can take heart from the recent past. Ahead of the 2014 Four Nations they had lost eight straight games to Australia. In that tournament they beat them twice, including in the final - 22-18 in Wellington.

They have lost the last three matches against Australia going in to today's encounter.

Image source, Rex Features

In contrast to their opponents today, Australia have gone about things with minimum fuss under the leadership of Mal Meninga, winning five straight games without quite hitting their scintillating best.

The win over England showcased this as the Aussies put in a clinical display to see off the hosts. After that game, England coach Wayne Bennett again questioned if his side had the requisite intelligence to win such encounters. No need to doubt the Aussies on that front.

Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport at Anfield

The stalls around Anfield are busy trying to off-load their half 'n' half scarves, Australia v New Zealand ones hanging next to those showing Bill Shankly and Jurgen Klopp. 

It is a fine day here in Liverpool but distinctly chilly. Dry so far, which is good for handling skills, and there is a steady build-up of both people and atmosphere in the streets around the ground.

BBC One

Get your telly on and flick to BBC One. Our live coverage of this final has just started.

Image source, Rex Features

They may be ranked as the world's number one side, but all is not well with the New Zealand team following the drawn game with Scotland, who became the first lower tier nation to earn a point in the Four Nations. Journalists back home have been calling for David Kidwell - not the most experienced coach out there - to take on an assistant/mentor to help prepare the side for next year's World Cup, which the Kiwis are co-hosting.

It has, of course, been a tough week for New Zealand. An earthquake struck the New Zealand seaside town of Kaikoura on Monday. Two people were killed early on Tuesday morning and about 600 people were evacuated on Wednesday by air and sea.

Phone calls home from the Kiwi players and staff have confirmed that family members are thankfully safe. They'll be looking for a victory to lift spirits in such trying times.

Just the one change for Australia from their 36-18 defeat of England last Sunday - with Shannon Boyd coming in for the injured Sam Thaiday on the interchange bench.

It is a different story for the Kiwis, who are much changed from the team that drew against Scotland.

Several regulars were rested against the Bravehearts but with Thomas Leuluai injured, Tohu Harris comes into the stand-off position alongside Shaun Johnson.

Loose forward Jason Taumalolo - joint-recipient of the Dally M award given to the best player in the Australian NRL - will have a big role to play as he returns to the side if his team are to upset the odds.

Image source, Rex Features

Most of you reading this would have loved England to be playing in this final. You'd have loved it, the England players would have loved it, Wayne Bennett would have loved it (although he wouldn't have shown it).

But I think deep down we all knew it wasn't going to happen. For all of the talk of improvement in tactics, technique and mentality, England remain behind their main rivals from down under in all three.

As a result, they get to watch on forlornly as Australia and New Zealand tear up Anfield, competing against each other for another nice shiny thing.

Image source, Rex Features

In a year that has showcased the unexpected, some things remain firmly the same.

The sun rises in the east, sets in the west, and in between one set of the two Australia play New Zealand in the final of the Four Nations.