Benitez will at least be comforted with better news regarding Skrtel's fellow defender Glen Johnson.
Raul Meireles headed horribly high and Martin Skrtel had a late chance saved as the Reds tamely bowed out.
We have already lost two to injury, Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zhar.
Damien Johnson headed over before Martin Skrtel's slip let in Paterson but Mucha rushed out to block the forward's strike.
Daniel Agger (back) and Martin Skrtel (hamstring) are both doubtful for their opening Premier League game at Spurs next weekend.
It got worse when Benayoun's cross was only cleared to Skrtel, whose shot was diverted past keeper Myhill by Kuyt's header.
However, Hodgson has been boosted by better news on strikers Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt, and defenders Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson.
Joe Mason had given Welsh club Cardiff a shock half-time lead but Martin Skrtel thumped home from close range after the break.
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Aurelio fired over from 20 yards and Martin Skrtel headed over from a corner late on but Wigan were able to hold out.
Liverpool get their season underway on Sunday, 16 August against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, a match which Skrtel is now doubtful for.
At the back, Martin Skrtel has looked composed, confident and strong and he will need to be at his best again to keep Chelsea out.
Hull's cause was not helped when Folan - being blocked from chasing a backpass by Skrtel - kicked out at the centre-back and was deservedly red-carded.
On the hour, Caleb Folan was sent-off for kicking out at Martin Skrtel, whose mis-timed shot was headed in by Dirk Kuyt to make it 2-0.
The Greek player's arrival is a timely one as Liverpool defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are out with a back problem and a jaw injury respectively.
"Before I came here a lot of people thought I wasn't good enough to play for Liverpool but I think I have shown I am, " stated Skrtel.
Skrtel was injured in a second-half clash with Antonio Semedo as the Reds won 3-1 in Romania to reach the last 16 with a 4-1 aggregate score.
Carragher crucially beat Utrecht striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel to a Mulenga cross and another threatening delivery from the right was spilled by Reina before Martin Skrtel cleared.
There was a sombre feel about the home side and Sunderland should have capitalised when Jones touched the ball past Martin Skrtel before racing clean through on goal.
And, when the Brazilian's shot struck Skrtel's arm, the Liverpool centre-back was given the benefit of the doubt that it was ball to hand rather than the other way around.
Netherlands international Kuyt, Slovakia centre-back Skrtel and England right-back Johnson did not go on international duty as they recovered from injury and all four should be fit to face the Hammers.
Mame Diouf had the best of these when Olsson's wicked cross flashed beyond Martin Skrtel but it took the striker by surprise and he could only shin the ball into the hands of Pepe Reina.
The clean sheet against Stoke was Liverpool's third consecutive shutout and came after Dalglish started with a three-man central defence of Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger to try to nullify the visitors' threat.
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Liverpool reduced the match to a training ground exercise for long periods thereafter, but Benitez's hopes of an injury-free night were ended when defender Martin Skrtel was stretchered off after injuring his foot in a challenge with Antonio Semedo.
Hoilett skinned Martin Skrtel as he hit the bye-line and broke into the box before squaring to Benjani, who tapped into the net easily to leave the crowd cruelly singing "you're getting sacked in the morning" in the direction of Hodgson.
Paul McShane's cross from the right was headed back across goal by Jan Venegoor of Hesselink and, after Martin Skrtel could only flick the ball up in the air, Geovanni waited for it to drop on to his left foot and directed it into the corner from 10 yards.
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