The argument against Liverpool & Milan is very strong I'm afraid. Teams that concentrate one one trophy after a certain period of the season tend to do well. Liverpool lost interest in the FA Cup in the 3rd Round. Once they realised their CL place was secure, they lost interest in the Premiership & everyone loses interest in the Caqrling Cup until later rounds (even then....)

Teams that are fighting on 3 or 4 fronts WILL get tired easier. They don't rest players at the final leg of the season like other clubs, they can't afford to. Both Milan & Liverpool rested players in their DROVES and surprise they both went through.

The CL is not a measure of the best team in Europe, it never will be until there is a 18 team league. It's a measure of a good cup team fighting for maybe 2 trophies OR if they are lucky a very good team fighting for 3 and getting lucky breaks.

The argument that a club were fielding their full squad when everyone else was too is invalid if we are talking about a period where a club fielding a 2nd squad when others can't.