Yes true. I'd love to get my hands on a reinvigorated northern franchise, with 20 years to do it, and free of Govt intervention. It could be a truly wonderful franchise, and despite the flak, we still must give Northern credit for the good they've done. Nowhere near perfect, but still.
And you're quite right - going North, I find it quicker and more options available to go from Liv - Preston via Warrington Ctl, Warrington BQ, Preston. Not to mention going anywhere else there are inevitably quicker journeys available (exception being Liv - Man where the Northern does it in 47mins via Newton, TPE and EMT do it in 52/54mins via Warrington).