Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League after Mohamed Salah inspired them to a deserved 2-0 win at Wolves.
The forward scored his 14th goal of the season before setting up Virgil Van Dijk's clincher in the second half at Molineux.
Jurgen Klopp's unbeaten Reds, who have conceded just seven goals in 18 league games this season, will now top the table on Christmas Day regardless of Manchester City's result against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
In eight of the last nine campaigns the team top at Christmas has won the league - except Liverpool in 2013.
Wolves had not lost in matches against Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal having also upset Chelsea at Molineux and will feel they deserved something.
It was a gutsy performance but Adama Traore wasted a fine opening while Romain Saiss was denied by Alisson Becker, who kept his 11th league clean sheet of the season.
🔝 Top of the Premier League
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) December 21, 2018
⚽️ Mo Salah top scorer
💪 At least 19 points ahead of Man United
Merry Christmas, Liverpool fans 👍 #LFC #WOLLIV pic.twitter.com/uVoj8RQLIz
The hosts missed the chance to moved into the top six above Manchester United as their three-game winning run was ended.
The hosts were made to pay for any profligacy when Liverpool scored with their first shot on target after 18 minutes.
Salah's deflected cross eventually found Fabinho and the midfielder swapped passes with Sadio Mane to find Salah who coolly flicked in with the outside of his boot from six yards.
In front of the highest Molineux crowd since 1981 - 31,358 - Wolves gave the Reds a scare but ultimately fell short after Van Dijk added a second with 20 minutes left.
Adam Lallana, on for the injured Naby Keita, was denied by a combination of Conor Coady and Patricio and from the resulting corner the Reds scored.
After being played short, Lallana's deep cross was only half cleared to the lurking Salah and his ball in found Van Dijk who stuck out a leg to divert it past Patricio.
Opta match facts
- Liverpool’s victory tonight means they will spend Christmas Day top of the Premier League – eight of the last nine teams to do so have gone on to win the title, with Liverpool in 2013-14 the exception.
- Wolves have lost each of their last four Premier League matches against Liverpool.
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored more Premier League goals than any other player this season (11), netting four goals in his last two away games.
- Only two teams – Chelsea in 2005-06 (49) and Man City in 2017-18 (52) – have had more points after 18 Premier League games in a season than Liverpool do this season (48).
- Mohamed Salah has scored in each of his last six Premier League appearances for Liverpool against newly-promoted opposition, finding the net exactly once in each game.
- Wolves have lost four of their last six home league matches – as many as in their previous 34 combined at Molineux.
- Since the start of last season, Mohamed Salah has found the net against 20 of the 22 teams he’s faced with Liverpool in the Premier League, failing only against Manchester United and Swansea City.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in 10 away league games (W8 D2) – their best run in the Premier League and longest since also going 10 unbeaten between October 1991 and February 1992.
- Jurgen Klopp has now defeated all 32 of the British clubs he’s faced as Liverpool boss in all competitions – before tonight, Wolves were the only side he’d failed to beat, losing in the FA Cup in January 2017 in their only previous meeting.
- Liverpool have won 25 league matches in 2018 – their most in a calendar year since 1990, when they also won 25.
