Been discussed before, of course, but re: that great Liverpool vintage, it's a question of context and degrees, unsurprisingly. Great team (obviously) but a bit dull, lacking some callitwhatyouwill - magic - compared to other teams in that category. Just being in said category is special, though, so this shouldn't be taken as a slight.
An apt parallel might be Keegan: Great player, won two Ballons (very nearly three), but doesn't really cut the mustard compared to other multiple Ballon winners - he lacks something in terms of truly extreme, eye-catching qualities.
Liverpool were a very impressive machinery without being a team which made you sit back in sheer amazement.
BTW, I agree with the comment above: The late 80s team with Barnes (and Beardo) were great to watch at times - though I never properly enjoyed watching them (but that was the rivalry, not the quality of the football).