Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina believes Chelsea are feeling the effects of their gruelling season as they challenge for a historic Quadruple.
Chelsea beat the Reds 1-0 in their Champions League semi-final, but Reina told BBC Sport: "In the second half, I tell you they were tired.
"We couldn't move the ball as quick as we normally do, but they were tired.
"They have a tough game on Saturday and maybe for the second leg on Tuesday the legs will not be the freshest."
Liverpool travel to Portsmouth on Saturday already assured of a Champions League place and with manager Rafael Benitez able to rest key players.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will have no such luxury for his side's home game against Bolton as they battle it out with Manchester United for the Premiership crown.
The Blues are three points behind their top-flight rivals and need a win against a Bolton side chasing a Uefa Cup berth.
Reina hopes the strain on Chelsea will aid the Reds but says the Anfield crowd and more potency in attack from Liverpool will be needed to help overturn the 1-0 deficit.
The Spaniard was modest about pulling off two vital saves from Frank Lampard to limit Chelsea to a slender lead while seeing only Steven Gerrard go close at the other end.
"I hope the atmosphere at Anfield is going to be the most important ever," said Reina.
"We are very confident when we play at home and we have to show Chelsea how important it is for us.
He added: "We have to improve. We have to try to score. I don't know which way but we have to find a solution to get a goal.
"We beat them in the league 2-0 earlier in the season and we can do it again."
Reds skipper Gerrard praised Reina for his two saves in the first leg but was left ruing seeing a left-foot strike saved by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
"I think Chelsea edged the first half on chances and Pepe has made a couple of good saves," said Gerrard.
"In the second, we dominated possession and pushed forward without creating clear-cut chances.
"But their keeper has pulled off a top save from me. I don't think any other keeper in Europe would have got that because I was away celebrating."
Gerrard also echoed Reina's sentiments about the role the Anfield crowd can play.
"I think Chelsea are happy with the result but I think they will show us a lot of respect in the second leg," he added.
"They know this tie's not over. They have witnessed the atmosphere at Anfield before and they know we are capable of beating them at as we showed in the Premiership this season.
"It's half-time. We would have liked a better scoreline but we get on with it. We go into the game needing to score the first goal.
"We are confident we can hurt them a lot more at our place with the crowd behind us. If we raise the tempo the first 20 minutes will be really interesting.
"If any fans in the world can make the roof come down it is certainly ours.
"We are obviously aware that Chelsea have a slight advantage by keeping a clean sheet and getting their goal but if we score the first goal next week it will be game on."
Chelsea beat the Reds 1-0 in their Champions League semi-final, but Reina told BBC Sport: "In the second half, I tell you they were tired.
"We couldn't move the ball as quick as we normally do, but they were tired.
"They have a tough game on Saturday and maybe for the second leg on Tuesday the legs will not be the freshest."
Liverpool travel to Portsmouth on Saturday already assured of a Champions League place and with manager Rafael Benitez able to rest key players.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will have no such luxury for his side's home game against Bolton as they battle it out with Manchester United for the Premiership crown.
The Blues are three points behind their top-flight rivals and need a win against a Bolton side chasing a Uefa Cup berth.
Reina hopes the strain on Chelsea will aid the Reds but says the Anfield crowd and more potency in attack from Liverpool will be needed to help overturn the 1-0 deficit.
The Spaniard was modest about pulling off two vital saves from Frank Lampard to limit Chelsea to a slender lead while seeing only Steven Gerrard go close at the other end.
"I hope the atmosphere at Anfield is going to be the most important ever," said Reina.
"We are very confident when we play at home and we have to show Chelsea how important it is for us.
He added: "We have to improve. We have to try to score. I don't know which way but we have to find a solution to get a goal.
"We beat them in the league 2-0 earlier in the season and we can do it again."
Reds skipper Gerrard praised Reina for his two saves in the first leg but was left ruing seeing a left-foot strike saved by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
"I think Chelsea edged the first half on chances and Pepe has made a couple of good saves," said Gerrard.
"In the second, we dominated possession and pushed forward without creating clear-cut chances.
"But their keeper has pulled off a top save from me. I don't think any other keeper in Europe would have got that because I was away celebrating."
Gerrard also echoed Reina's sentiments about the role the Anfield crowd can play.
"I think Chelsea are happy with the result but I think they will show us a lot of respect in the second leg," he added.
"They know this tie's not over. They have witnessed the atmosphere at Anfield before and they know we are capable of beating them at as we showed in the Premiership this season.
"It's half-time. We would have liked a better scoreline but we get on with it. We go into the game needing to score the first goal.
"We are confident we can hurt them a lot more at our place with the crowd behind us. If we raise the tempo the first 20 minutes will be really interesting.
"If any fans in the world can make the roof come down it is certainly ours.
"We are obviously aware that Chelsea have a slight advantage by keeping a clean sheet and getting their goal but if we score the first goal next week it will be game on."
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