Benitez leaves Torres on the bench
Fernando Torres made way for Demba Ba as the January signing made his first Barclays Premier League appearance for Chelsea against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon.
Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and Ryan Bertrand also came in from the side beaten by Swansea in the Capital One Cup in midweek while defender Gary Cahill was absent to be at the birth of his son.
Captain John Terry joined Torres among the substitutes for the first time since suffering knee ligament damage two months ago while Stoke boss Tony Pulis made only one change from their last Premier League game, Matthew Etherington replacing Cameron Jerome.
Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson, Walters, Whelan, Nzonzi, Etherington, Adam, Jones.
Subs: Sorensen, Whitehead, Upson, Kightly, Crouch, Shotton, Jerome.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole, Hazard, Lampard, Ramires, Bertrand, Mata, Ba.
Subs: Turnbull, Torres, Oscar, Ferreira, Marin, Terry, Ake.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
