Mohamed Salah was the top Premier League goalscorer with 32 goals in 2017-18, and his strike against Wolves took him top of this season's standings with 11
Mohamed Salah inspired Liverpool to a victory at Wolves that took them four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds went ahead when Fabinho played a one-two with Sadio Mane and crossed for Salah, who flicked the ball into the net with the outside of his foot.
The Egyptian set up Liverpool's second with a wonderful lofted pass over the home defence, allowing Virgil van Dijk to side-foot a six-yard volley past Rui Patricio.
City, the defending champions, play their game in hand on Saturday when they host Crystal Palace, but this victory ensures Jurgen Klopp's side will be top on Christmas Day.
Eight of the past nine teams to have led the league on 25 December have gone on to win the title.
- Relive Liverpool's win over Wolves as it happened
Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren said earlier this week that his side could go through an entire league season without losing, replicating the achievement of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' in 2003-04.
Their win at Wolves takes them to 18 matches, with 15 wins and three draws meaning they hold the only unbeaten league record in English professional football. They are also one of only three teams - along with Juventus and Paris St-Germain - to have not lost a league match this season in the top divisions in England, France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
This was another tough assignment overcome, against a Wolves side that had already beaten Chelsea and taken points off Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
A beautifully crafted move gave the Reds a 19th-minute lead. Salah's quickly taken free-kick led to Fabinho combining with Mane, the Brazil international getting to the byeline and pulling the ball back for Salah to finish with a deft flick past Patricio.
James Milner had a chance to add a second but his left-footed strike was well saved.
Salah, who won last season's Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award, then set up his side's second goal as his clever pass was steered into the net by centre-half Van Dijk for his first Premier League goal for Liverpool.
Klopp was able to take off both Roberto Firmino and Mane in the second half to rest them for a busy festive programme, which includes matches against Arsenal and Manchester City.
Substitute Georginio Wijnaldum nearly added a third in injury time - after Salah forced an error from Willy Boly - and this was a well-deserved victory for the Reds, who are attempting to win a 19th top-flight title but first since 1989-90.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Wolves
11Rui Patrício
5Bennett
16Coady
15Boly
2Doherty
27Saïss
8Neves
19Castro OttoSubstituted forVinagreat 81'minutes
28João MoutinhoSubstituted forGibbs-Whiteat 63'minutes
37TraoréSubstituted forCavaleiroat 63'minutes
9Jiménez
7Cavaleiro
10Hélder Costa
17Gibbs-White
21Ruddy
29Vinagre
32Dendoncker
33Bonatini
Liverpool
13Alisson
7Milner
6Lovren
4van Dijk
26Robertson
14Henderson
3Fabinho
10ManéSubstituted forClyneat 87'minutes
9Roberto FirminoSubstituted forWijnaldumat 76'minutes
8KeitaSubstituted forLallanaat 58'minutes
11Salah
2Clyne
5Wijnaldum
15Sturridge
20Lallana
22Mignolet
23Shaqiri
27Origi
Referee:
Craig Pawson
Attendance:
31,358
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamLiverpool
Possession
Home38%
Away62%
Shots
Home11
Away15
Shots on Target
Home5
Away6
Corners
Home1
Away10
Fouls
Home7
Away3
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Liverpool 2.Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Liverpool 2.
Posted at 90'+5'
Attempt missed. Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.Posted at 90'+5'
James Milner (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 90'+5'
Foul by Ivan Cavaleiro (Wolverhampton Wanderers).Posted at 90'+2'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Ivan Cavaleiro.Posted at 90'+2'
James Milner (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Ivan Cavaleiro (Wolverhampton Wanderers).Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Rui Patrício.Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Virgil van Dijk.Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.Posted at 88'
Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).Posted at 88'
Rúben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.SubstitutionPosted at 87'
Substitution, Liverpool. Nathaniel Clyne replaces Sadio Mané.Posted at 85'
Attempt missed. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by James Milner with a cross following a corner.Posted at 84'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Rui Patrício.Posted at 84'
Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sadio Mané with a through ball.Posted at 82'
Hand ball by James Milner (Liverpool).Posted at 82'
Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 82'
Foul by Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rúben Vinagre replaces Jonny.Posted at 78'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Conor Coady.Posted at 78'
Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonny.SubstitutionPosted at 76'
Substitution, Liverpool. Georginio Wijnaldum replaces Roberto Firmino.Posted at 72'
Attempt saved. Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Bennett.Posted at 71'
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Jordan Henderson.Posted at 70'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Willy Boly.
Goal!Posted at 68'
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Liverpool 2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah with a through ball following a corner.Posted at 67'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Rui Patrício.Posted at 67'
Attempt saved. Adam Lallana (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sadio Mané.SubstitutionPosted at 63'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ivan Cavaleiro replaces Adama Traoré.SubstitutionPosted at 63'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Morgan Gibbs-White replaces João Moutinho.Posted at 62'
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Raúl Jiménez tries a through ball, but Jonny is caught offside.Posted at 62'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Romain Saïss.Posted at 61'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Ryan Bennett.SubstitutionPosted at 58'
Substitution, Liverpool. Adam Lallana replaces Naby Keita because of an injury.Posted at 58'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.Posted at 57'
Delay in match Naby Keita (Liverpool) because of an injury.Posted at 55'
Attempt missed. James Milner (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Sadio Mané.Posted at 53'
Attempt blocked. Naby Keita (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Robertson.
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Source: bbc.com
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