Birmingham has been chosen ahead of Liverpool as the recommended city for England's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Press Association Sport understands.

Having beaten Liverpool in a tight race to win the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's backing, Birmingham must now convince the government to approve the bid and underwrite the event's costs.

That call will be made in the coming weeks, with the Commonwealth Games Federation's final decision on where the 2022 Games will be held expected by the end of the year.

The event became unexpectedly available earlier this year, when the CGF stripped the South African city of Durban of the right to stage the Games because of financial issues.