LIAM Livingstone has urged Lancashire’s batsmen to turn their talent into performances.

A third defeat in six matches left the Red Rose hovering dangerously above the relegation zone in Specsavers County Championship Division One.

An underperforming batting unit has been their big problem, with the latest collapse against Essex at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday, and only three centuries scored so far – two of them to Keaton Jennings.

Captain Livingstone is not absolving himself of blame. His top-score in nine Championship innings this summer is 48.

But the Barrow CC product misses Lancashire’s next two Championship matches against Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Road from next Wednesday and Hampshire at Old Trafford from a week on Monday due to England Lions one-day duty.

“It’s up to us to go out and start winning games for Lancashire,” said the South Cumbrian skipper. “We know we haven't been good enough, especially against Essex.

“When you’re 40 for 5 in both innings, you’ll do very well to win the game.

“I thought our bowlers bowled very well at times, but I still thought we were out-bowled and out-batted.

“We’ve got to learn pretty quickly and come back strong against Worcester.

“Our bowlers have taken wickets this year, which has been good. I don’t think we can blame our bowlers for losing. It’s on us as batters to start standing up, holding our hands up and getting some runs.

“I don’t think we are (a million miles away).

“We have the quality in there to do that. We’ve shown at different parts of the year that we have it. We just all haven't clicked at the same time yet.

“Hopefully, in the second half of the season, we can start scoring some runs and winning some games.

“I’m one of the batters that is struggling, but I don't feel out of nick.

“It’s trying to find the balance of playing you’re own natural way and giving yourself a chance.

“I think we have a lot of talent in our top five, but it’s about time we started to turn that talent into big scores and win games for Lancashire.”

Livingstone – who scored three successive half-centuries in the Royal London One-Day Cup before the return to first-class action – is frustrated that Lancashire, consistently, have been unable to get on the front foot in games.

“We started slowly and had to claw our way back in that,” he said of the RL50, in which they recently endured a failed North Group campaign. “And we can’t keep doing it. You don’t win games from it, and you don’t win trophies from it.”

Livingstone will be joined in Lions colours by Matthew Parkinson as they take on India A and West Indies A, with the pair missing the next two Championship matches.

Fifth-placed Lancashire have 57 points from six games, while Yorkshire are directly below them on 52 and seventh-placed Hampshire inside the relegation zone have 51. Bottom side Worcester have 25 points.

Both Worcester and Yorkshire have games in hand on Lancashire.

“They are two big games coming up because Worcester and Hampshire are two teams who are around us,” added Livingstone. “If we win those games, you’re all of a sudden back in a good position.”

England Test opener Jennings, who captained the Lions over the winter in the West Indies, is a strong contender to deputise for Livingstone in his absence.