WHATEVER the result at Liverpool today, Lancashire need to sort out their slip fielding.

With Stuart Law unable to field after suffering a bruised thumb in dropping two chances in Kent's first innings in the see-saw Aigburth Championship clash, his replacement at second slip Graham Lloyd dropped Kent's captain David Fulton no fewer than three times in the second innings.

It was little better in Lancashire's last Championship game against Sussex at Old Trafford when Law dropped two more chances and Neil Fairbrother one.

And the mistakes at Liverpool have not been restricted to the slips, with Burnley star James Anderson - fielding as 12th man for Law - also dropping Ed Smith at deep square leg with the sun in his eyes.

Fortunately for Anderson, who was not wearing a cap, that did not prove too expensive as Smith was out soon afterwards and did not make double figures.

But Lloyd's fumbles left Lancashire still needing to take eight more wickets on the last day today.

The first two misses came in consecutive overs from Ryan Driver when Fulton was in the 30s. They were both difficult, but the opener had moved on to 71 by the time Lloyd missed him again.

This time it was a sitter, but Lloyd had caught Smith only the previous ball and seemed to have lost concentration.

Glen Chapple, the unlucky bowler, was left stamping in frustration, and it was a similar story for his new ball partner Peter Martin when Anderson dropped Smith.

The misses were as surprising as they were disappointing, because Lloyd has been one of the best fielders in the Lancashire team for more than a decade.

And they threatened to undo all the good work of Martin and Chapple with the bat, after their record-breaking ninth wicket stand of 109 left Kent needing a daunting 360 to win. They came together with Lancashire on 204 for eight, and only 216 ahead, but Chapple made 55 and Martin an unbeaten 80.

It was the highest stand for Lancashire's ninth wicket in 162 first class matches at Liverpool and also the highest ever for their ninth wicket against Kent, beating records set in 1902 and 1879 respectively.

But Fulton and Rob Key got Kent's victory bid off to a flyer with an opening stand of 140 before Gary Keedy finally made the breakthrough for Lancs, having Key well caught at mid on by Ryan Driver for an entertaining 78 - which must have impressed the watching England selector Geoff Miller.

DAVID BYAS is set to return after four weeks out with a broken knuckle in Lancashire's National League game against Surrey at Old Trafford tomorrow. Kyle Hogg and Chris Schofield are also recalled to the squad, but Stuart Law is doubtful with his bruised thumb.

Surrey have already beaten Lancashire in the National League this season at the Oval but Martin Bicknell, who destroyed Lightning's batting on that occasion, will be missing with a broken wrist.

But the Lions are in buoyant mood after piling up a record 438 in 50 overs in their recent C&G Trophy match against Glamorgan, with Ally Brown smashing a world record 268.

LANCASHIRE 1st inns 226

KENT 1st inns 214

LANCS 2nd INNS

Chilton c Nixon b Saggers...60

Swann lbw Khan...85

Fairbrother c Nixon b Ealham...9

Lloyd b Ealham...0

Driver lbw Khan...1

Law lbw Ealham...4

Hegg c&b Khan...11

Chapple b Ealham b Saggers...55

Wood b Saggers...14

Martin not out...80

Keedy c Fulton b Patel...10

Extras...18

Total (all out)...347

BOWLING: Saggers 25-2-86-3; Khan 22-3-92-3; Ealham 25-7-53-3; Symonds 5-1-27-0; Patel 8.2-0-22-1; Golding 16-2-52-0; Walker 1-0-5-0

KENT

Fulton not out...82

Key c Driver b Keedy...78

E Smith c Lloyd b Chapple...6

Symonds not out...1

Extras...7

Total (2wkts)...174

BOWLING: Martin 16-2-46-0; Chapple 17-3-58-1; Wood 6-2-22-0; Driver 5-0-18-0; Keedy 16-6-26-1; Chilton 1-1-0-0