Wolverhampton Wanderers crest
Wolverhampton Wanderers

FT
0 - 2
Premier League
20:00 Fri 21st Dec 2018
Location: Molineux Stadium
Liverpool FC crest
Liverpool FC

Salah (18)
Van Dijk (68)

20:00 Fri 21st Dec 2018
20:00 Fri 21st Dec 2018 Molineux Stadium

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool: Live matchday blog

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk struck to claim a 2-0 win over Wolves at Molineux and maintain Liverpool's position at the top of the Premier League table.

The story of the game in Opta stats and widgets...

Full Time

Wolves 0-2 Liverpool

It's all over at Molineux - and Liverpool will be top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day after they pick up three points against Wolves.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were the scorers, with a goal in each half, to ensure the Reds open up a four-point lead over Manchester City at summit, with Pep Guardiola's men not in action until Saturday.

90

Five minutes of added time to be played...

89

Chance

A big opportunity for Wolves goes begging as Robertson misjudges a ball into the Reds' box. It breaks for Gibbs-White just yards out, but he strikes the side netting.

87

Substitution

Our last change - Mane makes way for Clyne.

85

Mane nods well over from a Milner corner.

84

Mane slides Salah into space, but Patricio thwarts his stabbed effort.

81

Substitution

Jonny makes way for Wolves, Vinagre replaces him.

76

Substitution

Bobby Firmino makes way for Georginio Wijnaldum.

74

Stat

Mohamed Salah has both scored and assisted in a game on eight occasions since the start of last season, more than any other player in the Premier League.

68

Goal

GOAL! VIRGIL VAN DIJK!

It's the big man!

Wolves half-clear a Liverpool corner, but Salah collects the ball on the right and lifts a wonderful ball back into the middle, where Van Dijk cushions in from close range.

Get in!

67

Chance!

Liverpool open up Wolves at pace, but Lallana's close-range effort is thwarted by Patricio.

63

Substitution

Double change for the hosts - Moutinho and Traore off, Gibbs-White and Cavaleiro on.

58

Substitution

Keita can't continue, so Adam Lallana comes on in his place.

57

Naby Keita is down and in need of some treatment from the LFC medical team.

55

The Reds work an opening for Milner, who hoists well over the bar.

52

Almost a chance as Patricio spills an attempted ball for Salah and against a defender, but no-one in red can reach the loose ball inside the area.

48

Milner plays a corner towards the edge of the Wolves box, where Salah takes a touch and smacks a half-volley over the crossbar.

Kick-Off

Back under way...

Wolves re-start the game at Molinuex, where Liverpool hold a one-goal lead.

The tale of the first-half tape...

Half Time

Wolves 0-1 Liverpool

Mohamed Salah's goal after 18 minutes is the difference between the teams at the break after an entertaining opening half.

45

Two minutes of added time to be played at the end of the first half...

44

Keita gives the ball away outside the area and Doherty streams into the box before shooting at Alisson.

42

Jimenez has two attempts at goal, both of which are blocked by Keita. The home fans are baying for a penalty for Milner's earlier challenge on Doherty.

40

Salah nudges Keita's centre goalwards, but it lacks the power to beat Patricio.

38

Traore's attempted pass on the edge of the Reds' box takes a touch off Lovren and rolls for Jonny, whose side-footer is claimed by Alisson.

32

Goal number 14 of the season for Mo.

29

A lovely pass from Mane almost releases Salah in the area, but he can't get it under control under pressure.

27

Doherty meets Traore's deep cross from the left with a header, but it's comfortable for Alisson.

26

Milner cuts in from the right and shoots left-footed. It's too close to Patricio.

18

Goal

GOAL! MOHAMED SALAH!!!

Liverpool have the lead at Molineux - and it comes courtesy of a wonderful finish from Salah.

The Egyptian's attempted cross from the left from a short free-kick takes a deflection and falls to Fabinho on the far side of the pitch. He plays a one-two with Mane and gets to the byline before sliding the ball into the middle.

No surprise as to who meets it and Salah diverts it beyond Patricio with the outside of his boot,

Lovely, lovely stuff.

Watching on...

Trent Alexander-Arnold is here tonight, watching the game among the away supporters inside Molineux.

14

Chance

Another good opportunity for the home side as Saiss breaks into the Reds box and shoots. It takes a touch off Lovren and Alisson manages to block.

12

A corner breaks for Van Dijk inside the Wolves box. He shifts the ball onto his right and shoots, but it's blocked by a crowd of bodies in front of Patricio's goal.

10

Keita and Firmino attempt a one-two inside the Wolves box to open up their opponents, but the former is blocked off.

The hosts counter and Traore drags a strike wide of the far post.

4

Chance

Fabinho gives the ball away in a dangerous position just outside the Liverpool box and Traore races into space before striking wide of Alisson's near post.

Kick-Off

And we're off!

Mohamed Salah gets the game under way at Molineux.

Come on you Reds!

Pre-match

Listen live free

Can't watch the game tonight? 

Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Tune into our live audio commentary service, which is available free, by clicking here.

Pre-match

Weather

Important weather update!

It's now absolutely chucking it down at Molineux as heavy rain has swept over the stadium.

Pre-match

The Reds are in the building...

Pre-match

Behind closed doors...

Pre-match

'What are the odds?'

We hear you ask.

Well, here's how BetVictor see it ahead of kick-off tonight...

Wolves: 6/1
Draw: 16/5
Liverpool: 11/20

Fancy a flutter? Click here for BetVictor's match specials page.

Pre-match

The formations

Here's how Opta reckon the sides will line up tonight...

Pre-match

In opposition...

Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Otto, Neves, Saiss, Moutinho, Jimenez, Traore.

Subs: Ruddy, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Dendoncker, Bonatini.

Pre-match

300 up for the captain

Jordan Henderson makes his 300th appearance for the Reds tonight.

Pre-match

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool make two changes at Molineux for the clash with Wolves as James Milner and Jordan Henderson return to replace Nathaniel Clyne and Georginio Wijnaldum, both of whom are named on the bench.

Liverpool: Alisson, Milner, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Mignolet, Clyne, Wijnaldum, Sturridge, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi.

Pre-match

Mane on the mic

Sadio takes care of pre-match media duties at Molineux.

Pre-match

Weather

Meteorological conditions latest

Wait no more, the official Liverpoolfc.com weather update™ is here for your Friday evening reading pleasure.

Conditions at Molineux are what we'd describe as "mild", with the temperature hovering around the nine-degrees Celsius mark. 

There is no rain at the moment, but it is forecast to begin around kick-off and continue throughout the duration of the match-up.

So, bring a coat. Hat, scarf and gloves optional, as always.

Pre-match

'It's a fantastic place, a huge football club and they helped me a lot'

Liverpool Academy graduate and current Wolves captain Conor Coady is interviewed in tonight's programme.

Conor, a Scouser and Reds fan, joined his boyhood club in 2005 and went on to make two first-team appearances before leaving for Huddersfield Town nine years later.

"They're great memories, not just as a footballer but as a person growing up," the 25-year-old defender says of his time at Anfield.

"It sounds daft but ultimately I realised I had to come away from Liverpool to play the first-team football I needed. It's a fantastic place, a huge football club and they helped me a lot. I'm grateful for coming through there.

"I was lucky to train with Carragher and Gerrard, and watch what they did on a daily basis - they never missed a session. I'd look at how Carragher played, how he spoke and he was big to follow."

Pre-match

Friday night lights

Molineux is ready to host the Reds.

Pre-match

Klopp assesses Wolves

Here's what the boss had to say about the size of the challenge awaiting Liverpool at Molineux tonight.

"They are really strong. We have go there and really be at our best again. They do a really good job.

"I saw the City game. Of course City were better and were unlucky with the goal Wolves scored that day, it was handball. But the way they defended as a team, coming from a football-playing side, was really impressive.

"That's the job to do week in and week out; first Wolves, then Newcastle, then Arsenal, then City and then Wolves again. It's exciting times, it's a good moment. It only worked so far because the boys were always focused on a specific job and that's what we will try to do again."

Pre-match

Listen in live

As always, we'll be providing free audio commentary on tonight's game here on Liverpoolfc.com. Steve Hunter will be joined by Mark Lawrenson for the most passionate calling of the action anywhere.

Click here to listen in.

Pre-match

What. A. Volley.

We mentioned Raul Meireles' incredible volley at Wolves earlier on and you can enjoy the strike in all its glory again below. We're still wondering how he managed it, to be honest.

Pre-match

Is right!

There was a special visitor to Melwood this week.

Mike Kearney, the Reds fan who went viral online after the win over Napoli, was invited to the training ground by Mo Salah to meet the Egyptian himself, as well as Klopp and the rest of the players...

Pre-match

In the Christmas spirit...

There was a brief pause to Liverpool's preparations for this match at Melwood on Thursday - so that the squad could pose for their annual Christmas photo...

Pre-match

Five memorable wins at Molineux

Do you remember any of these? From a title party to a stunning Raul Meireles volley, click here for a little walk down memory lane with Liverpool at Wolves.

Pre-match

How it stands

Gini isn't looking at the table... but we can.

Here's how the division stacks up ahead of this weekend's fixtures...

Pre-match

Wijnaldum: We're not looking at the table

Victory at Molineux would guarantee Liverpool top spot in the Premier League for Christmas but the players insist they are paying no attention to the standings at this stage of the season.

"We don't really think about that," Georginio Wijnaldum told Liverpoolfc.com this week.

"We just want to play the game and try to win the game and then we will see what will happen at the end of the week. We just have to make sure we win our game, that's the only thing we have to do.

"I think Wolves have shown already against the 'big' teams that they are a good playing side, especially at home, so it's going to be a really, really tough game. We know we have to be 100 per cent concentrated to win that game."

Pre-match

Stat attack

Impress your mates with these before kick-off...

  • In the last 26 league meetings between the sides, Liverpool have stopped Wolves from scoring on 15 occasions
  • The Reds are on an 18-game unbeaten run in the Premier League - their best of the era and joint-eighth longest of all time
  • Only Manchester City have conceded fewer away goals than Liverpool this season, while only Arsenal have scored more on the road
Pre-match

The manager's view

Catch up with everything Klopp had to say about Wolves at his pre-match press conference with our full coverage via YouTube below...

Pre-match

Team news

James Milner is expected to be available for this one after missing the win over United as a precaution, but Trent Alexander-Arnold will likely be absent and return after Christmas.

For Wolves, forward Diogo Jota is the only player ruled out with injury.

Pre-match

Did you know?

Liverpool's captain could reach a special games milestone at Molineux. An appearance for Jordan Henderson against Wolves would be his 300th for the club.

Pre-match

Last time out

It was an afternoon to treasure for Liverpool in their last Premier League outing - arch-rivals Manchester United were beaten 3-1 at Anfield. Relive the best moments of that one below...

Pre-match

Tale of the tape

It's first v seventh at Molineux this evening as the division's only unbeaten team take on a side that have won their last three. Here are all the numbers behind their seasons so far...

Pre-match

Welcome

Here we go again, then.

It's not Christmas yet, there's still work to do and for Liverpool that involves a trip to in-form Wolves tonight.

Can the Reds move four points clear at the top of the Premier League? Stick with us to find out.