City can reduce that gap back to a point with a win over Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Saturday, but Juergen Klopp's side will enjoy their Christmas dinner perched in first place.
In driving rain, on a foul night at Molineux, Wolves began brightly, the promoted side showing why they are in seventh place and Moroccan midfielder Romain Saiss forced Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker into an early save.
Jonny and Matt Doherty both tested Alisson before the break, suggesting that Wolves were still very much in the game but it was the visitors who extended their lead in the 68th minute.
Salah drifted a ball into the box towards Van Dijk and the towering Dutch defender calmly slotted past Rui Patricio from close range.
That killed off Wolves although substitute Morgan Gibbs-White should have scored near the end after a slip-up from Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.