STOKE CITY will find themselves up against a Liverpool side missing three of its most influential players in Saturday's Barclays Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium.

Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun have all been ruled out by injuries they sustained in the shock FA Cup defeat against Reading last night.

Spanish star Torres was substituted before half time of the cup replay with a twisted knee and has undergone surgery today which will keep him out for six weeks. 

England midfielder Gerrard will be sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring injury which forced him off at half time and Benayoun is out for three weeks with a rib injury.

The injuries added to Rafael Benitez's problems on a night when Championship club Reading equalised in injury time and then won the third round replay with a Shane Long goal in extra time.