The National Express coach from Liverpool to Manchester Airport is about £6 each way and takes about 50 minutes but none of these services connect with the first wave of departures from Manchester either.
Not totally correct.
Taken from National Express web site:
13/01/14 LIVERPOOL (Coach Station) 02:30 Manchester Airport 03:20
0h 50m £6.60
That is in time for the first wave of departures