TEAM NEWS: Fernando Torres on the bench as Chelsea face Stoke

BPL, Chelsea and Liverpool, Fernando Torres (Getty Images)

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Chelsea’s £50 million man Fernando Torres has been left on the bench for today’s Premier League trip to Stoke City.

Having failed to net since his record transfer from Liverpool, the Spaniard must continue to wait for his first goal in a blue shirt with Carlo Ancelotti preferring Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba in attack.

The two strikers return to the starting line-up having begun the victory over Manchester City on the bench with Saloman Kalou also starting as a substitute. Elsewhere Jose Bosingwa replaces Branislav Ivanovic at the back.

Stoke, meanwhile, are unchanged from the side that hammered Newcastle United 4-0 last time out as they aim to make it three wins in a row.

Stoke: Begovic; Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham; Pennant, Whelan, Delap, Etherington; Walters, Jones.
Subs: Nash, Collins, Pugh, Diao,Whitehead,Wilkinson.

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Malouda; Anelka , Drogba.
Subs: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Torres, Mikel, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Kalou.