A professional Liverpool performance secured all three points in a 2-0 win over Wolves, and fans were delighted as the Reds remain top over Christmas.
Wolves 0-2 Liverpool
Premier League, Molineux
December 21, 2018
Goals: Salah 19′, Van Dijk 68′
The Reds travelled to Wolverhampton with the chance to secure top position for Christmas Day and establish a four-point buffer over Man City, and they did so with a well-disciplined performance which only exemplified their ever-growing maturity.
A rain-soaked Molineux had welcomed the two sides and paved the way for an end-to-end first half which Liverpool narrowly edged thanks to an early show of precision finishing from Mohamed Salah—his fifth goal in four games.
Liverpool were kept honest by Wolves throughout, but a poacher’s finish from Virgil van Dijk put the result beyond doubt midway through the second half and extended the Reds’ unbeaten streak to 18 games.
The three points, and an 11th clean sheet of the season, keep Jurgen Klopp‘s men at the top of the Premier League table, and here’s how supporters reacted to the result on social media and our forums.
Fans were in awe of Van Dijk’s striker’s finish & show of prowess throughout…
Virgil! Knows where the goal is at both ends!
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) December 21, 2018
No other CB has come into a new team and completely changed the whole way of defending. No other CB has had such a big impact in the defensive record like @VirgilvDijk has for @LFC. Everybody has improved! That shows you have good he is!
— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) December 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/1076228229332197376
HE'S A LARGE MAN WHO IS GOOD AT THE FOOTBALL
— nate (@natefc) December 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/1076228129641906176
“jeez VvD even makes goal scoring look easy. Rolls Royce or what”
– Noo Noo on the forums.
Whether Liverpool win the league or not, Virgil Van Dijk could easily win PFA Player of the Year. Man-of-the-Match for what must be the 10th time this season.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 21, 2018
Virgil Van Dijk really has made a remarkable difference to this Liverpool side.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) December 21, 2018
There is no better defender on world football, on current form anyhow, than Virgil Van Dijk. An absolute gem of a player. If he was a car he'd be a Rolls Royce running on low emissions. Sublime.
— Gaz (@Gary_R_Adams) December 21, 2018
Favourite moment from that game: Traore putting on the afterburners only to see Van Dijk effortlessly run past him.
— Paul Grech (@paul_grech) December 21, 2018
Salah was the key cog in the machine for the Reds…
Salah is now Liverpool's top scorer and joint-top assist provider this season.
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) December 21, 2018
Salah tonight mate. Fucking hell. Special. #LFC
— Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) December 21, 2018
“Thought Mo was excellent today, always full of running and trying to create something.”
– Redsi73 on the forums.
https://twitter.com/IndigoLFC/status/1076235421397463041
Just watching the Salah goal back in slow-motion, and what a superb finish it was. ?
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) December 21, 2018
“Salah has been ace tonight.”
– Noo Noo on the forums.
Salah was absolutely amazing tonight. Not bad for a one season wonder.
— Jason (@jayk201) December 21, 2018
Mo fucking Salah
95mins
79 touches
13 Touches in the box
53 passes
13 passes into the box
3 Chances
3/4 shots on target
Goal
Assist— SimonBrundish (@SimonBrundish) December 21, 2018
With a slalom-game like that, Mo #Salah could get Egypt their first gold in the Winter Olympics if he puts his mind to it.#WOLLIV #LFC
— Ambassador Deep (@srijandeep) December 21, 2018
Liverpool’s defensive record continues to impress…
Liverpool now have more PL clean sheets this season than they kept in the whole of 2013-14
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) December 21, 2018
19 clean sheets in 33 #EPL games since VVD debut
10 league away games without defeat, 1st time since 1992 #lfc— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) December 21, 2018
Another clean sheet for Liverpool against a decent Wolves – that’s now 11 cleans in 18 games. Salah involved in another 2 goals ?? #LFC remain unbeaten and top the table on Christmas Day for 2018. The real deal ?? #WOLLIV #LFC
— Jules Breach (@julesbreach) December 21, 2018
Professional performance from Liverpool here and I don’t think we’ve expended that much energy.
A few errors, but another clean sheet and all important three points.
— Rory Greenfield (@RoryGreenfield) December 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/PeteEdwards/status/1076239939048820736
And Liverpool have gifted fans an early Christmas present…
Absolutely brilliant. This team is special.
— Green Scouser (@Green_Scouser) December 21, 2018
Excellent. Really, really good, even if it wasn't in the first half.
Still didn't concede, still had another gear to go through, still won and top for Christmas.
Great work!
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) December 21, 2018
“Clean sheet and 3 points in very difficult conditions and at a place where City dropped points; so very immense this. Mistakes were expected and we came out on top nonetheless.
“VVD, Salah and Fabinho immense. Could have scored more, could have conceded more, but deserved to win nonetheless!
“Merry Christmas! It looks wonderful from here at the top!”
– Incognito on the forums.
Top of the league at Christmas in #LFC best start in the league in our entire history, 126 seasons! Undefeated in 18 league games, with the best defence in the league – conceding just 7 goals and 11 clean sheets! Mo Salah, top scorer in Premier League! Merry Christmas Reds. ??
— Carl Clemente (@clemente_carl) December 21, 2018
“Four points clear. Top at Christmas. Three points against a team who’ve been a pain in the area to the top sides.
THAT WILL DO.”
– Mascot88 on the forums.
A performance of real quality. The pressure was on against a good side, away from home. The way the players now manage games is incredible. Merry Christmas Reds!
— LFC Round Up (@LFCroundup) December 21, 2018
Definition of a professional performance. Made up for dots of mistakes by showing what they’re made of. It’s said enough, but Van Dijk is untouchable. Midfield three deserve big credit today. Top of the tree at Xmas. #LFCdigest
— Danny Gallagher (@Danny7Gallagher) December 21, 2018
This team just seems like a machine at the moment.
— Jimmy (@EntireDesign_) December 21, 2018
Massive win. Oh and……..
Top of the league ?
— Jonathan Higgins (@Jhiggins3) December 21, 2018
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