Erik ten Hag has appealed to Manchester United fans to give the team their full support even if it helps rivals Manchester City win the Premier League.

Ten Hag wants a strong reaction from his players following their humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday but Sunday’s game against Arsenal at Old Trafford is complicated by the Gunners’ involvement in the title race with City.

A positive result for United would help Pep Guardiola’s pursuit of a historic fourth consecutive title — something even the great Sir Alex Ferguson failed to achieve.

Ten Hag hopes United supporters will rally behind him having shown loyalty by staying to the end at Selhurst Park and showing encouragement to the heavily beaten players. Asked if fans will have split loyalties on Sunday and secretly wish Arsenal well, Ten Hag said: ‘You have to ask them but I would say they always support us.

‘We are together and definitely need to be unified because we are in a very difficult situation lately.

‘We will put a team out with a good plan and I am sure the players will fight and I hope the fans will back us again.

‘I think the fans have patience. You saw it on Monday.’

Ten Hag also dismissed suggestions his injury-ravaged squad have given up on him after dropping out of the European places.

‘In almost every game except Palace, they have fought. There is a good team spirit. We saw it against Brentford, Chelsea, Liverpool, Coventry until 70 minutes. They were resilient against Sheffield United, and the physical output against Burnley, their third game in six days, was incredible.

‘I see some comments (from pundits). Either they don’t have any knowledge of football or managing a football team.’

Ten Hag hopes to see skipper Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford feature against Arsenal.