Liverpool and Arsenal to play in Dubai tournament with bizarre rules during the World Cup

Liverpool and Arsenal players not at the World Cup in Qatar will be keeping their match fitness high - by playing in a tournament with bizarre rules.

Both teams will travel to Dubai to take part in the newly-formed Dubai Super Cup, a four-team competition that also contains AC Milan and Lyon.

Each team will play two games as part of the group stages. However, the two English sides will not be facing each other ahead of the Premier League's return.

Liverpool's squad is likely to be strong, with only seven Reds players absent due to World Cup duty - a smaller amount than other top clubs in the division.

Those remaining behind include Roberto Firmino and Thiago, while Diogo Jota, who would almost certainly otherwise have travelled to Qatar with Portugal, continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Mohamed Salah is also not going to Qatar, with Egypt failing to qualify for the World Cup, while Joel Matip is retired from Cameroon duty.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have 10 players at the World Cup, with most of their star performers this term travelling to Qatar.

But Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney and Martin Odegaard won't be there, as a result of not being selected, in Brazil defender Gabriel's case, or their nations not qualifying.

They will be among the players likely to play in the Dubai Super Cup. But what are the rules?

Dubai Super Cup: The rules

Three points will be awarded to the winner of each match.

However, there is a slight tweak to the traditional system for draws, with both teams receiving two points each.

And whatever the end result of each game, a penalty shootout will take place. The winner of the shootout receives an additional point, meaning a maximum of four points are on offer in each of the two group games.

There will be no overall final, with the winner of the group stage declared the winner of the Dubai Super Cup.

All games will be played at the Al-Maktoum Stadium, which has a capacity of 15,000.

When will the games take place?

The schedule for the Dubai Super Cup, involving Arsenal and Liverpool, is as follows:

Tuesday, December 8 - Arsenal vs Lyon (7:30pm local time)

Sunday, December 11 - Liverpool vs Lyon (2pm local time)

Tuesday, December 13 - Arsenal vs AC Milan (6pm local time)

Friday, December 16 - Liverpool vs AC Milan (3:30pm local time)

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