Torres on the bench for Blues

Fernando Torres found himself on the bench as Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti made four changes following his side’s Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United in midweek.

The £50m striker and centre-forward partner at Old Trafford in Nicolas Anelka were replaced by Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou for the Barclays Premier League clash at The Hawthorns.

David Luiz and John Obi Mikel also started ahead of Brazilian pair Alex and Ramires, who both collected minor muscle injuries against United.

Baggies manager Roy Hodgson made just one change, with midfielder James Morrison named in favour of benched forward Simon Cox in what appeared to be a 4-5-1 line-up.

At the other end of the table, West Ham were without talismanic midfielder Scott Parker for their clash with Aston Villa.

Parker was sidelined by a troublesome Achilles problem and was replaced in midfield by Gary O’Neil, one of four changes, including the return of Republic of Ireland captain robbie Keane, made by Hammers manager Avram Grant from the 3-0 defeat at Bolton.

Carlton Cole and Victor Obinna were preferred to Demba Ba and Frederic Piquionne, while Lars Jacobsen started at right-back ahead of James Tomkins.

Aston Villa featured two changes from their victory over Newcastle, with Emile Heskey and former Hammers captain Nigel Reo-Coker replacing Gabriel Agbonlahor and Jean Makoun.

Blackpool had goalkeeper Matt Gilks back in their starting line up for this afternoon’s relegation clash with Wigan at Bloomfield Road.

The return of Gilks, making his first appearance since breaking his kneecap in November, was one of three changes to the team that had been beaten 3-1 by Arsenal the previous weekend, with Neal Eardley and Elliot Grandin also named in the first XI and Richard Kingson, Alex Baptiste and Jason Puncheon dropping to the bench.

Latics boss Roberto Martinez made one adjustment to the side that lost 1-0 at Chelsea, with Steve Gohouri replacing the suspended Maynor Figueroa.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish named an unchanged side for the home tie with Sunderland.

Former Black Cats striker Kevin Phillips was starting his third successive match in partnership with Cameron Jerome.

Sunderland made three changes – two enforced – from the line-up beaten 3-2 at home by West Brom last weekend.

Skipper and central defender John Mensah and midfielder Kieran Richardson were ruled out through injury while Steed Malbranque was relegated to the bench.

Steve Bruce handed a first Premier League start to midfielder Jack Colback while Stephane Sessegnon and Jordan Henderson were recalled.

French defender Gael Givet returned for struggling Blackburn’s game at Everton today.

Givet reportedly missed last week’s draw against Birmingham because of a tax dispute with the club but he was recalled at Goodison Park in place of the injured Ryan Nelsen.

David Dunn and former Barcelona trainee Ruben Rochina were also included as Junior Hoilett failed to overcome a hamstring injury and Morten Gamst Pedersen was dropped to the bench.

Everton were unchanged from the side which thrashed Wolves last week but Seamus Coleman was on the bench after recovering from an ankle injury.