No they're not, when United had VDS, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Scholes, Giggs, Ronaldo, Nani, Tevez, Berbatov, Rooney, Park Ji Sung even lesser players like Welbeck, Foster, Brown and a few others were quality. When Arsenal had players like Seaman, Campbell, Adams, Toure, Cole, Viera, Henry, Berkamp, Pires, Llunberg and a few others their team was packed with quality from front to back. Look at some of the teams Chelsea and City have had they're much better than Liverpool. Also I'd argue Liverpool's 2013/2014 season was better than they're team now and as much as I hate to say it they deserved to win the league that season.
They had players like Agger, Skirtel, Gerrard, Coutniho, Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling they were destroying teams at one stage. The reality is clubs are spending huge amounts on average players, look at the contribution players like Baines, Lescott, Jags, Coleman, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill even players like Distin, Felaini made at Everton, compared to a lot of our current players who cost a lot more. Pickford makes countless mistakes, just like Howard, yet cost a lot more than him. It's not surprising that any team who put in the slightest effort will do well. look at Sheffield United for example they're outplaying teams like Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal who have spent far more money than them. We gave them a victory a few weeks ago, Arsenal couldn't even beat them when they wanted to lose, which shows you the level of commitment their players have. Barcelona have them the trophy last year could of easily won 4-0 if Demble didn't pass it at the keeper, they give them 2 goals in the second leg and missed numerous chances in the second leg. When teams actually get at them, such as Napoli, Wolves, United a few other teams they don't look that good. I think it's more a case of everyone else being poor than them being great.