Billy Barr has told his Rovers Under-23s squad to keep enjoying the season as they return to action tonight (7pm).

Rovers’ five game unbeaten run, and their title hopes, were ended by defeat at Everton last time out, but it has been a fine season for Barr and his youngsters, who have won 10 of their 20 matches, scoring 44 goals in the process.

They host fifth-placed Liverpool at Leyland tonight knowing anything but a win will hand Manchester City the Premier League 2 title, but also move them back into second place having been leapfrogged by Chelsea.

Looking to get back to winning ways, Barr said: “As a group, let’s be thankful for what we’re doing and ensure we keep enjoying the journey.”

The positives from the 2-1 defeat at Everton were the performance, as well as a sixth goal in five matches for striker Sam Burns and a return to fitness of Dan Butterworth.

He made his latest injury comeback, having suffered a setback since playing for the first time in 18 months when coming off the bench at Stoke City in December 2019.

The talented 21-year-old attacker came through 72 minutes against the young Toffees, and having come through injury free, will look to push towards a full game against their Merseyside rivals on Monday night (7pm).

Butterworth will be one of the most experienced members of the side, with senior appearances as well as 52 Premier League games under his belt.

Boss Barr has named younger sides as the season has gone, with several of his regular starters loaned out in January, while others, such as Lewis Thompson, out of the pictures.

That has offered opportunities to second year scholars Jake Garrett and Lenni Cirino, and first-years Sam Durrant and Sam Burns.

And Barr said: “It’s been great for players like Lenni Cirino to be up against a really good, older players.

“At Everton, the two centre backs were up against a 23-year-old, and the speed of thought was probably why we lost, but there’s no need to feel down.”