PREM: Wolves 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool celebrate Virgil van Dijk's (left) goal at Wolves

Liverpool will be top of the Premier League at Christmas thanks to goals from Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk in a 2-0 win at Wolves on Friday.

In the previous 10 Premier League seasons the side top at Christmas has won the title eight times and the Reds laid that marker down with goals from Mohamed Salah (18) and the excellent Virgil van Dijk (68).

The victory moves Jurgen Klopp's team four points clear of Manchester City, who play Crystal Palace on Saturday.

On a wet night in Wolverhampton, Liverpool failed to settle but Adama Traore could not take advantage of an early opening following a poor pass by Fabinho.

The Liverpool midfielder made up for that error by setting up the opening goal on 18 minutes. Ruben Neves failed to track his run down the right and the Brazilian crossed for Salah to skilfully flick home for his 11th goal of the season.

Wolves looked a threat on the break but despite registering four shots on target in the opening half, Alisson was not severely troubled.

Liverpool looked far more comfortable after the interval with Salah a constant threat on the counter attack. He provided a touch of class on 68 minutes to double his team's lead. Van Dijk was on hand to finish Salah's pin-point cross to score his first Premier League goal for the Reds.

From that moment it was game over and Salah could have added to his tally but Rui Patricio made some smart blocks.

Klopp's men saw the game out in comfortable fashion and as Jamie Carragher noted on commentary: "We have a title race!"