Rovers boss Tony Mowbray is excited by the prospect of facing Champions League finalists Liverpool in pre-season.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were announced as Rovers’ fifth opponents for the off season as they prepare for life back in the Championship, with the Premier League side due at Ewood Park on Thursday, July 19 (7.45pm).

The Reds are likely to be without some of their World Cup stars, though it is expected to be a strong squad which Klopp brings with him to East Lancashire.

Liverpool were beaten in the Champions League final by Real Madrid last month and finished in the Premier League top four once again.

And looking forward to the match, Mowbray said: “It’s exciting. I didn’t see the Champions League Final as I was elsewhere but the bottom line - despite the defeat - is that Jurgen Klopp is building a real team.

“It’s a club that’s ready to rival the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, those sort of clubs for honours.

 “They’ll be aiming to win the title and I think Jurgen has put things in place for that. I’m excited to see (Naby) Keita play in the Premier League.

“He is a player who I’ve watched in the Bundesliga a lot in the season just gone and Liverpool will only get stronger.

 “A lot of their players will be at the World Cup or coming back but there will still be a really strong team..”

Mowbray was keen to ensure that Rovers have a better balance of opponents in pre-season in 2018 than they did 12 months earlier.

The boss wants to ensure there is the right blend of matches against teams who Rovers will expect to dominate the ball and be tested defensively.

Liverpool are expected to prove the latter, as are another high profile opponent who are yet to be announced.

The one remaining friendly will be another midweek test against Premier League opposition and likely to fill the quota of pre-season friendlies for this season.

It is expected to take place between the game at Lincoln City on July 22 and Accrington Stanley on July 28.

Rovers were the final one of four domestic friendlies announced by Liverpool before they head to the United States for the International Champions Cup which takes place between July 22 and July 28.

There they will face Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Despite the World Cup finishing just five days before Liverpool are due at Ewood, but those not out in Russia, such as Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum, Nabi Keita, Andrew Robertson, Fabinho and Adam Lallana would be expected to feature.

But Mowbray hopes the Rovers fans are equally keen to see the new faces they will have on their books by the time the friendly comes around, with tickets priced at £10.

He told the club website: “The pricing is fair and hopefully there will be a good crowd.

“We’ll have some new players out there as well, of course.”