WOLVES 0 LIVERPOOL 2
Salah and Van Dijk put Liverpool top at Christmas but it’s a bad omen for Reds
The Egyptian punished Wolves for being so wasteful in attack with a sublime finish in the first half before Van Dijk made it two
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THEY are the all-singing, all-dancing football team everyone loves to watch but Manchester City will still be at number two in England this Christmas.
It is testament to Jurgen Klopp and the rest of his team that it will be Liverpool who are proving to be more than just a fancy decorations.
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It is they who will top English football at this landmark stage of the season – while also remaining unbeaten - with Mo Salah scoring one and then setting up Virgil Van Dijk to score against their lively and impressive hosts.
Each of the last four teams to unwrap their presents first on December 25 have held up the Premier League trophy the following May.
The last club to have failed to do this was, ahem, Liverpool, and their fans will be hoping there will be no slip-ups on this occasion, in all senses of the word.
Yet 15 wins in 18 – with just seven goals conceded – is the stuff of champions.
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Pep Guardiola dismisses Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp's attempted mind games in relation to his 'perfect squad'
At some stage, maybe a bit like Leicester, everyone must take Liverpool seriously. Maybe they can win the damn thing, regardless of Pep Guardiola being a genius and all that.Regardless, the fact Liverpool are making City work like hell to win what we thought would be tediously straightforward title run is a good thing.
As you would expect against such a fine, footballing team like Wolves, this was no easy outing.
With his hood pulled firmly over his head, as the heavens emptied over the Black Country, Liverpool’s players may not have been able to see Klopp's face but they would certainly have heard him because even by his standards, he was animated, constantly screaming and yelling at his players.
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For Salah, his clever flick in the 18th minute was his 14th goal of the season and while he had scored 21 before Christmas last season, it is foolish to say he is having a bad season. He is still likely to score more than 30 goals.
What has become a trademark of Liverpool this season, this was a hard-working, workmanlike performance with James Milner fitting in at right-back due to the injury problems in that area.
A £40million summer signing from Monaco, midfielder Fabinho delivered his best performance in the 3-1 win over Manchester which ultimately led to the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
He has, at times, struggled with the pace and physicality of English football and this was evident when he was too casual on the edge of his own box and concede possession to Adama Traore, although he booted the ball into the sidenetting.
And just six days after his cock-up against United, Liverpool keeper Alisson was in blunderland again, spilling a shot from Romain Saiss but he got away with it.
Wolves, roared on by their highest home attendance since 1981, were playing clever, vibrant and intricate football and it was Liverpool forced to chase the ball.
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So, it understandably knocked the stuffing out of the hosts when Liverpool score with their first attack of the game.
It started with a blocked cross from Salah, Dejan Lovren picked up the ball and played it back Fabinho. He displayed a combination of both strength and skill to combine well with Sadio Mane and a drilled cross was perfect for Salah to flick the ball past Rui Patricio with the side of his boot. It was his fifth strike in four matches.
Salah looked ready to score a second but was denied by an outstanding tackle from Ryan Bennett.
It took Wolves, looking to sign a striker and centre-half next season, until approaching half-time to wake up and rediscover the high tempo football they played at the start.
Alisson saved from Jonny and Matt Doherty while were a couple of other nervous moments in the Liverpool defence. This included the moment Wolves bench – and crowd – appealed for a penalty after Milner came together with Matt Doherty.
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Liverpool lost Naby Keita with an injury, Adam Lallana coming on, and both sides struggle to reproduce what had been an open first-half contest.
When Liverpool’s three musketeers carved Wolves open, Roberto Firmino drove a shot straight at Patricio, despite some clever work by Salah and Mane.
And seconds later it was the £75m man Van Dijk that has helped the club sorted out their defence who wrapped up the three points.
Lallana’s cross was badly cleared by Saiss and Salah’s cross from the right was outstanding, with Van Dijk getting ahead of Bennett and sticking out a leg to score.
Job done for Liverpool – and now it is Newcastle and Arsenal. But every time you look, that fixture against City on January 3 keeps getting bigger.
Regardless, though, Liverpool fans will enjoy their Christmas.
It’s match week 18 of the Premier League as Chelsea greet Leicester City and Cardiff welcomes Manchester United
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