This is one of the reasons that the proto-Liverpool that started this Town was formed on a relatively flat bit, near to the current Courts, with more practical easy access coming via the opposite direction from what would become Abercromby Square.
The Moss-Lake that would become the square had several good things going for it, which would have made it appealing to the people of the area long before King John decided he wanted to play with boats and pillage the Irish. It is located on the ridge at the top of the hill with fine views of anyone sailing up the Mersey to invade, it had its own water source, and it was the shortest traversable route from the Sefton coast towards Warrington and ferries that could cross the river to the South. In fact if you look at the earliest definitive record of settlements we have from the Domesday Book, the traversable boundary to the Moss Lake’s edge ( Smithdown Lane) is the route between the local settlements of West Derby, Toxteth and Smithdown. It was a rich source of peat, the fuel of the day for cooking and heating, and had fresh water running right through it. Well past medieval times it would be a resource to fight over, but more on that in a few millennia, we’re starting in the Mesolithic fact fans!
Ps Yes I digress sometimes :-)