Following the midweek FA Cup exit at home to Reading, Liverpool will be aiming to bounce back with all three points from Saturday’s Premier League trip to Stoke City, kick-off at 12:45 hours (GMT).

Rafa Benitez will be without the club’s top scorer for the season for the visit to the Potteries. Fernando Torres was forced to leave the field with just unfer half a game gone in Wednesday’s FA Cup loss. Tests later revealed that the Spaniard sufferd a torn cartilage in his right knee. A Liverpool club spokesman confirmed that: “The injury will require surgery and that Torres is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.”

The Anfield boss received more bad news on Thursday, with injuries to both Gerrard and Benayoun, who will both definitely miss the Stoke clash. The club captain is expected to be sidelined for two weeks and the midfielder between three and four weeks.

Liverpool lie seventh in the league on 33 points, five points off fourth-placed Manchester City. Sandwiched between the Reds and Man City are Tottenham, on 37 points, and Aston Villa, on 35 points.

Tony Pulis’ side go into the match in tenth place, with 24 points. The Potters had enjoyed a solid start to the campaign but a poor run saw the Britannia club slide down the table. The however ended a poor run of results- no wins in six- with a 3-2 win in their last Premier League outing at home to in-form Fulham.

The previous meeting between the two clubs this season at Anfield ended in a comfortable win for the Reds. Fernando Torres opened the scoring on four minutes, side-footing a Gerrard cross past the Stoke keeper. Johnson, Kuyt and Ngog all got on the scoresheet as the Merseysiders cruised to a 4-0 victory.