[3] The office was created under the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 which allowed for the creation of 'mayors' to lead combined authorities in England.

[6][7] Currently, unlike the Mayors of Greater Manchester, London and West Yorkshire the mayor of the Liverpool City Region doesn't incorporate the powers of the Police and crime commissioner role for the relevant police constabulary (the Merseyside Police).

In March 2019 Steve Rotheram requested to the government that the role be incorporated into the role of the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, in line with the powers of these mayors.

[9] in October 2023 it was announced that the Liverpool City Region would be bringing buses in the region back under public ownership, giving the Mayor control over routes, frequencies, fares, standards and more.

Unlike the directly elected London Assembly scrutiny structure that operates in Greater London, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region sits on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority alongside the six council leaders as the seventh member and chair.