How does Liverpool metro system work?

[BotCrossHuns]

I'm used to the London underground, where you just use your contactless card at the barriers when you go in and out.

Does Liverpool have something similar, or do I have to buy a ticket? I only want a single journey, at least for the day I arrive - arriving by train to Lime St, hotel near James St, might walk but have luggage so thought I'd check out the metro, if it's not extortionate for one stop.

If I buy a paper ticket, do I need to put it in the barriers on the way in and keep it for the way out? Or is there a validation machine; or ticket inspectors?

Yes the ticket goes in the machine at the barrier. If it's a day saver it will pop out again. If it's a one way ticket it will swallow it.

Or if you get a return ticket, you'll get 2 tickets, one there and one back.

thank you! I could get a return ticket but then I'd have to save it til the day I return, not sure whether that is allowed?

I'm going to get a day saver for one of the day when I have a few places to go, but the first day I just need one-way to get from the train station to the metro station a bit nearer the hotel. It seems a little frivlolous though, so I might just walk, depends how much luggage I take I guess!

Good to know that the one-way ones you don't need to exit. Maybe they are not priced by how many stops you do, so no need to check! (probably makes it not worth it for one stop, though...)