As i commented months ago when the TfGM prospectus for rail was published, this is already in the bag for someone. Rightly or wrongly, certain people in Manchester get to find out everything that is happening long before anyone else.
I also said, though, that it would be completely inappropriate for rail services to be run from/for Manchester, or control even shared equally with them.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cb60dBQXIAAZUkk?format=jpg&name=small
For decades, the Liverpool region has produced the lion's share of passengers and revenue.
If control of this goes to ill-qualified Manchester, fares will rise in Liverpool and profits from Liverpool will be used to pay for train service improvements in Manchester. Probably while services in Liverpool themselves become less focused.
Immediately this forum jumped on the notion of this north western set up being run from Manchester, as if that's just natural.
Yet it is Merseytravel that have the experience of rail concession letting, govern the area with by far the highest level of train use in the north, and have the track record of working with neighbours to mutual interest (as opposed to own).
If nothing else, the Merseyrail City Lines should be ripped out of Northern and devolved to Liverpool. Although I would argue they should be entrusted to run it all.