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It was deep into stoppage time at the KCOM Stadium when Philippe Coutinho attempted to clip a simple cross-field pass.

As the ball rolled harmessly out of play close to the halfway line - having missed its target by a country mile - the disconsolate Brazilian attacker looked down at the turf in embarrassment as the Hull fans laughed at his expense.

It summed up Coutinho’s afternoon as Liverpool’s slump reached its nadir. He was on a different wavelength to his team-mates throughout and made a hash of the Reds’ two best chances. In his desperation to make amends, he lost his composure and repeatedly took the wrong option.

Coutinho was supposed to be Jurgen Klopp’s knight in shining armour, riding to the rescue and saving Liverpool’s season when he returned to action last month after seven weeks out with ankle ligament damage.

But it hasn’t happened. His initial rustiness was understandable. But since making his comeback in the EFL Cup tie with Southampton he has clocked up eight appearances. The only game Liverpool have won was the FA Cup replay at Plymouth.

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Coutinho hasn’t come close to rediscovering the form that back in the autumn made him a strong contender for Player of the Year. That swagger on the left of Klopp’s front three hasn’t been seen since he departed on a stretcher when Sunderland visited Anfield in late November.

His confidence levels appear to have taken a battering. You have to go back to November 6 for the last time he found the net in the 6-1 mauling of Watford.

If he hadn’t recently penned a new five-year contract with no release clause you can guarantee that there would be speculation over whether his head had been turned. But Coutinho is happy and settled - his rush to put pen to paper is proof of that.

Klopp touched upon his struggles at Melwood on Friday when he put it down to Coutinho simply caring too much and trying too hard to make the difference.

“Phil is the type of guy who takes all the responsibility in the world,” Klopp said.

“But he has had a very good week in training. We have seen some very good signs from him.”

How Liverpool need Coutinho to rediscover his touch when Tottenham visit Anfield on Saturday.

The 24-year-old is potentially world class but he’s yet to truly make the leap into that elite bracket.

Even the best suffer from the occasional downturn but what they do when questions are being asked of them is dig deep and deliver. They lead by example. They don’t wilt under pressure, they show others the way.

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Coutinho scored in this fixture last April, coolly rolling the ball into the bottom corner in front of the Kop after a slick one-two with Daniel Sturridge.

But since then there hasn’t been enough of an end product. His tally of five league goals in 17 league games this season is eclipsed by the likes of Alexis Sanchez (15 in 24), Dele Alli (11 in 23) and Eden Hazard (10 in 23).

Coutinho lit up Liverpool’s opening weekend triumph against Arsenal but another match-winning contribution in a high-stakes contest is long overdue.

It’s time for the little magician to pull a rabbit out of the hat. The Reds’ season hinges on it.