Both cities have announced that they are interested in replacing Durban after the South African city was stripped last month of the event following their failure to provide the required financial guarantees.

The UK Government confirmed on Friday (April 21) that they would back a bid from a British city but want to ensure they get "value for money".

Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and is located only 35 miles from Liverpool.

An aquatics centre and velodrome were built for those Games and could be used again for 2022.

The stadium which hosted the ceremonies and athletics in 2002 is now exclusively a football ground used by Manchester City. 

Liverpool, it is claimed, could host the athletics at a new waterfront stadium planned for Premier League club Everton.

They would probably follow the example of Glasgow, who installed an innovative new temporary track at Hampden Park to host athletics during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, the driving force behind his city's campaign to host the Commonwealth Games, appeared to back the so-called "M62 bid".

"Liverpool happy to work with Manchester to secure Commonwealth 2022 games for the North West," he tweeted.

The main rivals to Liverpool and Manchester appear to be Birmingham.

They claim they already have 95 per cent of the facilities in place to hold the Games.

A feasibility study has reportedly identified several venues, including a temporary velodrome at the Barclaycard Arena, an indoor sporting and entertainment venue in the city centre.

There are also plans to expand the Alexander Stadium, which has previously hosted International Association of Athletics Federations Diamond League meetings, into a 40,000 capacity venue.

The main facility lacking in Birmingham's proposed bid is an Olympic-sized swimming pool but it is claimed one is being planned in the region. 

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the city to do this," Ian Ward, the deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, told the Birmingham Mail. 

"We’re ahead of the game in getting this together.

"We have 95 per cent of facilities in place which means in my view we can deliver a Games at lower cost than anywhere else.

"Using existing venues means we will not be lumbered with expensive white elephant facilities after."

London may also be interested in bidding for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, using the facilities built for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

But they have yet to officially declare their intentions.

Commonwealth Games England is expected to inform the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) by the deadline next Friday (April 28) that they plan to bid.

They will then discuss at a Board meeting on May 9 which city to choose.

Australia also plan to submit a bid from either Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney.

Canada, meanwhile, remain hopeful that either Edmonton or Toronto may still back a bid.

The CGF are expected to announce a replacement for Durban by mid-summer.