Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes Liverpool's victory over AC Milan underlines they are better equipped to challenge on all fronts this season.
The Reds came from behind to win 2-1 at the San Siro on Tuesday to become the first English team to win all six Champions League group games.
Having secured qualification to the knockout stage with two matches to spare, Jurgen Klopp heavily rotated against Milan and in the 2-0 home win over Porto a fortnight ago.
And with a much-changed Liverpool line-up also progressing to the Carabao Cup quarter-final, Oxlade-Chamberlain is convinced Klopp's squad has moved up a level.
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"We are a better team than we have been in this point in time (in the season)," said the midfielder.
"That comes with playing together or years, having moments of success, understanding what we needed to do to get that, the level we had to set and how relentless we had to be to achieve those things.
"The big difference is something like this game. Maybe in recent seasons when we have made so many changes it doesn't always go the way we wanted and the performance drops off.
"The whole squad can be proud of the win. The squad is moving forward and developing together. That's crucial."
Oxlade-Chamberlain, an impressive performer on his 50th career appearance in the main Champions League competition, was one of eight changes from the side that won at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League last weekend.
Nat Phillips played his first 90 minutes since May, Neco Williams only his fifth outing of the campaign and teenage Tyler Morton was handed only a third career start, while Joe Gomez and Naby Keita made a return from injury.
And of the competition for places, Oxlade-Chamberlain said: "You have to keep your standards high to keep up with where the team is trying to move to.
"The lads who have played regularly have set the standards high and all of us in training have. If you want to be a part of this team moving forward you have to have that bit between your teeth, the desire to work hard, show what you can do and take your chances when they come.
"This was a really good example of that from a lot of players who haven't played as much as they have done in recent seasons.
"Nat came back in and was brilliant, Neco was outstanding at right-back, young Tyler was really solid, really good. Divock is two in two. I could go through the whole team - Ibou, Kostas was solid.
"It was good to see Naby back as well and Joey G, it's important for us going forward."
Of Liverpool's attitude going into Tuesday's game, Oxlade-Chamberlain told liverpoolfc.com: "There's no point jumping on a plane for two hours and then not try to win a game of football.
"You see who many fans we had out there, it was unbelievable. It's not right for us to turn up and not put in the right level of performance.
"Of course, the manager reminds us that we're human beings and complacency slips in to all of us, but it's our job to limit the amount that happens."
