Steven Gerrard has today given his backing to Liverpool’s bid to become the host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Liverpool FC's former captain and current U18s manager has joined a host of elite athletes who are backing Liverpool’s bid, including Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Tony Bellew, Steve Parry and Beth Tweddle.

The city of Liverpool was this week named the 'UK's Greatest Sporting City for 2017' in a new study and is up against the city of Birmingham to become England’s official bid for the games.

Gerrard said: "I am delighted to be able to back the city’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

"Liverpool is a city with a rich sporting heritage with its two football teams, boxing stars and global sporting events such as the Grand National and the Open being hosted on Merseyside.

“As a Scouser, it would be fantastic to have another global event like the Commonwealth Games in Liverpool and would help showcase to the world what a great city Liverpool is."

Liverpool 2022 bid chair, Brian Barwick, added: "It is great to have Steven Gerrard so positively backing Liverpool’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

"During his career at Liverpool FC Steven was recognised as a world-class star of a world-famous football club.

"To have both Steven and Liverpool Football Club so firmly behind the bid is a further indication of just how determined the city is to win the right to host the Games."