My favorite stories are ones where I find myself rooting for the bad guy and feel conflicted about that. The answer isn't always yes, but the question should be raised. Just as telling a story in chronological order can improve dramatic tension, telling a story in the right psychological order can strengthen the emotional content of a story. Robert Boswell says we must give characters a chance to react to what they have experienced by first showing the event, then showing the effects. I look to see if I have described key details of key events and the characters' subsequent emotional responses.
Cliches sometimes creep into prose because they say exactly what needs to be said.
The problem is, cliches waste opportunities to develop theme and tension through the careful and deliberate use of imagery. I make sure my symbols work for the narrative. When someone drives across a bridge, I am aware of the psychological implications of crossing to the other side. I don't have my character chopping sausages while describing a failed marriage to a best friend unless I want the reader to make crass associations. Too much imagery makes the narrative dense.