LONDON — On a frosty morning at Queens Park Rangers’ Harlington Sports Ground in the shadows of London’s Heathrow airport, Canadian winger Junior Hoilett seemed very relaxed as planes roared off in the distance behind him.
The Toronto native, 24, has spent most of his life away from home and on the move across Europe, so having the busiest international airport in the world close by makes plenty of sense.
Hoilett left Brampton, Ontario as a 13-year-old to sign with then-Premier League side Blackburn Rovers and stops in Germany during work permit issues helped his development as a player and person in Europe. Now the speedy winger is trying to help QPR survive in the Premier League.
But how did that journey to England at such a young age begin?
“As a kid I just loved soccer so much,” Hoilett smiled, as he so often does. “I was with a team called Oakville and we played in a tournament in Wales and I played well. I then got scouted by a lot of clubs and went to Blackburn on trial at the age of 11, for like a month. I loved it because it was just about playing soccer all day every day, you didn’t have to worry about anything else. I did that for a couple of years and at the age of 13 they invited me to come over full time and sign with the academy.”
Did Hoilett have any reservations about heading across the Atlantic to pursue his dreams as a teenager?
“First it took me a while to think about it, because you don’t want to leave home for so long,” Hoilett said. “But at the end of the day I really wanted to be a soccer player and not a lot of kids back home (had) the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. I took it. It was a big step, but as you can see, it paid off.”
Hoilett smiled as he said that. He has a slightly timid character but as time ticked on as we sat in the clubhouse overlooking QPR’s reserve pitch — the U-21 side was playing against Cardiff City — and the sun grew weary in the clear skies above the west side of England’s capital city, Hoilett smiled and laughed more frequently as his laid back demeanor shone through.
The Canadian winger seems to be rather relaxed despite the fact that QPR are embroiled in an intense relegation battle which has nine PL teams fighting for their top-flight lives.
Hoilett taking on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
“Everybody here at QPR has one goal, which is to remain in the Premier League,” Hoilett said. “Every day in training everybody is working hard so we can all improve. Whether that is working on the final ball in or defensive shape. Everybody is committed to complete the challenge and stay in the Premier League.”
The youngster is no stranger to this situation. After joining QPR from Blackburn in 2012-13, the R’s were relegated on Harry Redknapp’s watch but bounced back after winning the Championship play-off final last year. Hoilett believes this previous experience in a relegation dogfight will help QPR out.
“It is really tight this season so every game is vital,” Hoilett said. “Even if it’s only a point, it could mean a lot come the end. At home the fans are terrific and they give us the extra boost. They are like the 12th man on the pitch, they give us the extra boost to get forward and get the result that is needed. Our away form has been poor this season but we just need that one break to get a good result away from home and everything will change and the ball will keep rolling. Every game we go into the players are giving 100 percent and keeping strong minded to believe we will get a result.”
QPR’s away form has been abysmal. Zero points from their first 10 games on the road is the worst away record to start a season from any team in PL history and recently alleged altercations between players and fans following defeat at Burnley proved how dire the situation is getting. Hoilett put that incident down to passion and believes everyone wants to succeed. Previous experience counts for a lot in this type of situation too.
“Every bit counts. From running the extra five or 10 yards, to winning a tackle, to staying in shape to stay compact. If you switch off for a second,” Hoilett said, clicking his fingers loudly, “then it is in the back of your net. Especially in the Premier League. As long as we learn from the mistakes that we made at the beginning of the season we will be okay by the back end of the season.”
With an ambitious owner in Tony Fernandes — who Hoilett revealed the club and players rallied around during the recent Air Asia disaster, as Fernandes owns the airline which also acts as QPR’s club sponsor — and plans for a new stadium rumbling on, can QPR kick on in the future if they manage to stay up this season?
“I think if we can keep the status in the Premier League, then we have to set new goals each year,” Hoilett said. “I think next year would be to not be in a relegation battle and then after that to push on further and try to get into the top 10. Right now it is all about trying to beat that battle against relegation and next year we will set new goals and new standards.”
A world away from west London, relegation battles and the PL is where Hoilett grew up in the western suburbs of Toronto. In fact, he beams every time Toronto is mentioned, but despite being hugely proud of his Canadian heritage and his home city of Toronto, Hoilett has yet to pledge his allegiance to the Canadian national team. In fact, Jamaica is still an option for Hoilett due to his father being from the Caribbean island.
“Right now my mind is just focused on QPR and trying to beat this relegation battle,” Hoilett said. “I haven’t really thought about it. The time will come where I have to make my decision and it will be … (Hoilett paused, smirked and laughed a little) … It will be an interesting decision.”
But has Canada been in touch recently as the 2015 Gold Cup looms this summer?
“No, they haven’t been in touch with me lately,” Hoilett confirmed. “They’ve seen that I’ve been in a mix of the relegation battle with QPR, which is the main thing. Especially as I don’t have much playing time this season. So right now they told me to focus on this and when you’re ready, just give us a call.”
Pushing Hoilett hard on this subject which, so far, he has been highly reluctant to speak to many journalists about, I asked when he may make that call and if he’s under any pressure from his family to play for Canada or Jamaica.
“It has to come soon. I think so,” Hoilett said. “I’m not sure. I can’t say (when). I will see what happens. The options are open. It’s my decision. Nobody really puts pressure on me.”
Switching back to his time at QPR, Hoilett reflected on his best moment for the Hoops so far as he’s made 80 appearances and scored seven goals for the west London club since arriving in 2012 after three-straight years in the PL with Blackburn before they were relegated. Setting up the winner for Bobby Zamora to seal promotion back to the top-flight last May at Wembley has been the high point.
Hoilett taking instructions from QPR boss Redknapp.
“That was probably the highlight of my QPR career so far,” Hoilett said. “It’s been up and down. Getting relegated and then going back up straight away, not many teams are able to achieve it. But I will always remember that moment, going back up and fighting for that. Going to Wembley, 90,000 fans, it was a great experience.”
Hoilett calls Redknapp “an old fashioned manager” and says he’s learned a lot from him and veteran players like Rio Ferdinand, who are always giving him advice and helping him grow as a player.
As the January transfer window comes to a close, reports are linking Hoilett with a loan move away from QPR in search of regular minutes as he has played in 17 games for the R’s but has started just six times in all competitions and has yet to score.
Former QPR assistant coach Steve McLaren, now in charge of Derby County — the club QPR beat to get promotion last year and are currently joint-top of the Championship this term — has reached out about grabbing Hoilett on loan but QPR turned down their advances. German club Borussia Monchengladbach are also said to be interested and the winger told me the time he spent in Germany was “one of the best experiences” of his life.
For now, however, Hoilett is happy to stay with QPR in their fight against relegation.
“As a player you want to start so it’s been frustrating,” Hoilett admitted, as he played with the lace in his sneakers tentatively. “You just have to keep working hard. Whether that is coming off the bench for 10 minutes, 20 minutes or five minutes or hopefully I get the start. Right now I am just trying to fight for my place in the team and whatever happens will happen.”
Hoilett will be hoping to get a start against Stoke City this Saturday at the Britannia Stadium as the man who gave him his chance to flourish at Blackburn Rovers and then brought him to QPR, Mark Hughes, will be in the opposition dugout. Hoilett described Hughes as having a “vital influence” in his career after training with Rovers’ first-team as a teenager before Hughes signed him for QPR.
Switching back to his homeland, when asked about Toronto FC’s huge investments in the transfer market of late and if he’d ever fancy a move to MLS to play in his hometown, Hoilett certainly left the door wide open.
“I follow Toronto FC. It is my home city. We just got Sebastian Giovinco and there’s a lot of Italians in Toronto so that will go down very well. I’m happy for him,” Hoilett smiled. “Toronto has grown as a soccer city, they have one of the biggest fanbases in MLS, so I follow Toronto FC and MLS very closely over here. The MLS is growing and everyone is getting excited. They are bringing in younger players, very talented players in. So yeah, one day, hopefully the chance will come to play for my city. That would be perfect.”
Over the past few summers, Hoilett has trained with TFC during his offseason to stay fit. His connection with the club is strong and he explains that despite admitting to loving almost every sport going — the NBA his favorite, while his grandmother always takes him to Toronto Blue Jays games whenever he is home — soccer has always been in his blood.
“From the age of four I was playing soccer,” Hoilett recalled. “They have a really good setup for the youth (in Toronto) where it’s the rep teams where you play indoor and outdoor soccer. It is really good thing for the youth because there’s a lot of good young players in Canada who have a lot of talent. But when they reached the age of 18, there was really nothing until Toronto FC came along. I think it is growing and growing. There are a lot of youngsters playing and if you look there’s a few coming through the ranks here like Michael Petrasso at QPR. It is exciting for Canada’s future. Hopefully the young’uns can keep coming through and get that European status which every Canadian probably dreams of.”
Hoilett is eager to help QPR avoided a second relegation in three years.
Hoilett’s brother Jaineil, who has just been drafted by FC Dallas in the fourth round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, got that European status as he joined his older brother at Blackburn and at FC St. Pauli in Hamburg. The duo have also trained together with Toronto FC and QPR over the past few years to stay fit, but how much did having his brother around help Junior settle in overseas?
“To be honest, it helped me a lot,” Hoilett said, with another huge smile on his face. “Having my brother there after practice, we would go home and chill and that was one of the best things to have. We would play video games, fight each other and stuff… It is what you need to keep your mind in a happy place, especially when there’s tough times and you’re fighting and struggling in the relegation zone.”
U-20 Canadian international Jaineil is now heading to Texas to start his career in MLS and his older brother isn’t surprised he’s succeeding.
“It was great to see him make the MLS SuperDraft, it makes me proud,” Hoilett said, smiling. “Hopefully he gets that chance that he deserves because he has been working hard to try and reach some stability in his career. While he was in Germany, he did terrific. He went to Mainz and Frankfurt after that where his contract just ran out. I hope he gets that chance to show everybody what he’s made of.”
As for Junior’s hopes for the Canadian national team, which he and his brother may well be a part of together one day, he dreams of seeing Canada at the World Cup and believes one player in particular can help lead the way.
“It would be history!” Hoilett laughed. “Canada is a massive country and I believe they have a massive fanbase. They just have to sort a few things out to reach that level. I’m sure we have the talent. The country can do it and I think they could pull it off. The youngsters are the future, players like Dylan Carreiro and then you have [Michael] Petrasso has been doing very well and getting experience over here in the lower leagues. If everyone could follow in his footsteps then there will be better players being developed who can reach the national team status.”
As one of the few Canadians to come through a Premier League academy and make his mark in England’s top-flight, would Hoilett recommend his route to any Canadian or U.S. players who are able to follow in his footsteps?
“Of course. You develop your skills in the best league in the world,” Hoilett said. “And it’s like the saying goes: ‘If you shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will still land on the stars.’ You just have to keep working hard and believing. The main thing is, if you are having fun doing it then it will come easy.”
With nine teams currently separated by four points, from 20th to 12th places, the 2022-23 Premier League relegation battle is not only set to last until the final day, but the final two months of the season are sure to be one of the wildest roller-coaster rides of all time.
Three clubs will be relegated from the Premier League (and replaced by three teams from the EFL Championship, of course) at season’s end. Never before have this many clubs been this close to the bottom-three, and the bottom of the table, at this point of a season.
How many games remaining between relegation candidates?
There are 23 remaining head-to-head matchups between the nine teams currently in the relegation battle.
Crystal Palace: 8 games (1 against every other team)
Wolves: 4 games
Leeds: 5 games
Everton: 4 games
Nottingham Forest: 4 games
Leicester: 6 games
West Ham: 5 games
Bournemouth: 6 games
Southampton: 4 games
The USMNT got another goal from Ricardo Pepi to secure a 1-0 victory over El Salvador in Orlando on Monday and win Group D of the CONCACAF Nations League, booking their place in this summer’s finals.
Mexico and the USMNT are the first two (of four) sides through to the final round, with Panama and Canada currently in pole position to finish atop their respective groups when they conclude play on Tuesday.
It was a frustratingly slow start by the USMNT on Monday, as El Salvador refused to let the Americas get comfortable or play their game. Long balls over the top of the USMNT defense created a few nervy moments early on, but interim head coach Anthony Hudson’s side looked a completely different side after halftime.
The USMNT’s first real scoring chance came in the 46th minute, when Gio Reyna cut in from the left wing, worked his way past two defenders and fired a shot low and hard toward the near post. The ball smashed the front of the post and the rebound ricocheted back into play, just out of Alejandro Zendejas’ reach atop the six-yard box.
Zendejas went close to opening the scoring just two minutes later, as he audaciously — but necessarily — lobbed the ball over a frazzled Mario Gonzalez in goal, only to pull it just wide of the far post.
The Yanks kept the pressure up as the second half wore on, and eventually got their reward in the 62nd minute. A minute after Pepi came into the game, Weston McKennie found the 20-year-old forward making a dangerous run in behind the Salvadoran defense, but Gonzalez saw it early as well and came out to close down his angles as Pepi jostled with the last defender. Pepi went for the cheeky chip over the ‘keeper, to go with the two goals he scored against Grenada on Friday.
When Miles Robinson ruptured his achilles in May of last year, the USMNT lost its most consistent defensive performer throughout much of World Cup qualifying, leaving Gregg Berhalter with only two reasonably tested options at center back: Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman.
Ream was something of a revelation at 35 years old in Qatar and Zimmerman held his own in his three starts, but the damage was done with the USMNT’s highest-ceiling center back suddenly out of the picture. But Robinson returned to the USMNT fold on Monday, after making four appearances to start the MLS season, and the 26-year-old, who will be out of contract at the end of the year, was arguably the best player on the field.
Having suffered a major injury just months before his first trip to a World Cup, it’s likely that Robinson will look to take every opportunity ahead of him and test himself overseas, and he shouldn’t be short on options either. Short term, he’ll continue to partner Ream; long term, the hope is that Robinson and Chris Richards, who has struggled to stay healthy for much of the last two years, will form a formidable partnership ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
What’s next?
When the USMNT reconvenes for its next camp next month, the Yanks will face rivals Mexico in the Continental Clasico in Glendale, Ariz, on April 19.
Defenders (8): Sergino Dest (AC Milan), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Tim Ream (Fulham), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City)
Midfielders (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Leeds United), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Alan Sonora (Juarez), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar)
Forwards (6): Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America)
England is still seeking its first European Championship and will be favored to emerge from Group C with aforementioned Italy as well as Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Malta.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions started off 2024 qualifying well as Harry Kane snapped a tie with Wayne Rooney atop England’s all-time goals list with a 2-1 win in Italy, the nation’s first in the country since 1961, and then Bukayo Saka led the Three Lions to a 2-0 win over Ukraine on Sunday.
Netherlands and France are also in a spicy group that has dark horse Republic of Ireland and former champions Greece, as well as Gibraltar.
A number of nations have guaranteed themselves no worse than a playoff spot due to their performances in the UEFA Nations League: Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Georgia, Croatia, Turkey, Serbia, Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan 1-2 Slovenia
Slovakia 0-0 Luxembourg
Italy 1-2 England – Video, player ratings as Kane breaks Rooney record
Denmark 3-1 Finland
Portugal 4-0 Liechtenstein
San Marino 0-2 Northern Ireland
North Macedonia 2-1 Malta
Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 Iceland
Friday, March 24
Bulgaria 0-1 Montenegro
Gibraltar 0-3 Greece
Moldova 1-1 Faroe Islands
Serbia 2-0 Lithuania
Austria 4-1 Azerbaijan
Sweden 0-3 Belgium
Czech Republic 3-1 Poland
France 4-0 Netherlands
Saturday, March 25
Scotland 3-0 Cyprus
Israel 1-1 Kosovo
Armenia 1-2 Turkey
Belarus 0-5 Switzerland
Spain 3-0 Norway
Croatia 1-0 Wales
Andorra 0-2 Romania
Sunday, March 26
Kazakhstan 3-2 Denmark
England 2-0 Ukraine — Video, player ratings as Saka leads Three Lions
Liechtenstein 0-7 Iceland
Slovenia 2-0 San Marino
Slovakia 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland
Luxembourg 0-6 Portugal
Malta 0-2 Italy
Montenegro 0-2 Serbia
Netherlands 3-0 Gibraltar
Poland 1-0 Albania
Austria 2-1 Estonia
Sweden 5-0 Azerbaijan
Moldova 0-0 Czech Republic
Hungary 3-0 Bulgaria
Republic of Ireland 0-1 France
Tuesday, March 28
Georgia vs Norway 1-1
Wales 1-0 Latvia
Romania 2-1 Belarus
Switzerland 3-0 Israel
Kosovo 1-1 Andorra
Turkey 0-2 Croatia
Scotland 2-0 Spain
Remember: you can watch all 380 Premier League games across NBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com and Peacock. We’ve got you covered.
Will Manchester City win yet another Premier League title? Can Arsenal push them all the way? Will Chelsea and Liverpool recover to finish in the top four? Can Manchester United’s new-look side surge into the title race? What about Tottenham? How will the new boys get on? Who will be the surprise package?
Those questions will be answered from August 2022 to May 2023, with the full list of Premier League fixtures.
While below are the answers to all of the questions you have around the Premier League fixtures and everything else you need to know for the upcoming season, with full details on the Premier League TV schedule across the NBC family of channels and more.
The Premier League fixtures for the 2022-23 season were announced on Thursday June 16, 2022 at 4am ET. Below is the full schedule, as you can watch all 380 games across our NBC platforms.
The Premier League fixture computer decides who plays who and when, as teams located close to one another are usually playing at home on opposite weekends to help with policing, crowd control and transport congestion in those areas.
When will the Premier League take a break for the 2022 World Cup?
When will the 2022-23 Premier League season finish?
The final day of the season will be on Sunday, May 28, 2023.
Which teams will compete in the 2022-23 Premier League?
These are the 20 teams which will compete in the Premier League for the upcoming season:
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Predictions for 2022-23 Premier League season
We made a few bold predictions ahead of the Premier League campaign, which you can read in full here. And we’ve also predicted how we think the Premier League table will look at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. I’m sure you agree wholeheartedly with these predictions…
2022-23 Premier League TV schedule
Below are the Premier League fixtures in full, with all kick offs listed at 10am ET unless otherwise stated:
2:45pm: AFC Bournemouth v Brighton
2:45pm: Leeds v Nottingham Forest
2:45pm: Leicester vs Aston Villa
3pm: Chelsea vs Liverpool
Wednesday 5 April
3pm: Man United v Brentford
3pm: West Ham v Newcastle
Matchweek 30
Saturday 8 April
7:30am: Man Utd v Everton
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Brentford v Newcastle
Fulham v West Ham
Leicester v AFC Bournemouth
Spurs v Brighton
Wolves v Chelsea
12:30pm: Southampton v Man City
Sunday 9 April
9am: Leeds v Crystal Palace
11:30am: Liverpool v Arsenal
Matchweek 31
Saturday 15 April
7:30am: Aston Villa v Newcastle
Chelsea v Brighton
Everton v Fulham
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Spurs v AFC Bournemouth
Wolves v Brentford
12:30pm: Man City v Leicester
Sunday 16 April
9am: West Ham v Arsenal
11:30am: Nottingham Forest v Man Utd
Monday 17 April
3pm: Leeds v Liverpool
Matchweek 32
Friday 21 April
3pm: Arsenal v Southampton
Saturday 22 April
7:30am: Fulham v Leeds
Brentford v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace v Everton
Leicester v Wolves
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Sunday 23 April
9am: AFC Bournemouth v West Ham
9am: Newcastle v Spurs
Postponed due to European action
Man Utd v Chelsea
Brighton v Man City
Matchweek 33
Tuesday 25 April
2:30pm: Wolves v Crystal Palace
2:45pm: Aston Villa v Fulham
2:45pm: Leeds v Leicester
Wednesday 26 April
2:30pm: Nottingham Forest v Brighton
2:45pm: Chelsea v Brentford
2:45pm: West Ham v Liverpool
3pm: Man City v Arsenal
Thursday 27 April
2:45pm: Everton v Newcastle
2:45pm: Southampton v AFC Bournemouth
3:15pm: Spurs v Man Utd
Matchweek 34
Saturday 29 April
7:30am: Crystal Palace v West Ham
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Brighton v Wolves
12:30pm: Arsenal v Chelsea
Sunday 30 April
9am: AFC Bournemouth v Leeds
9am: Fulham v Man City
9am: Man Utd v Aston Villa
9am: Newcastle v Southampton
11:30am: Liverpool v Spurs
Monday 1 May
3pm: Leicester v Everton
Rearranged games
Wednesday 3 May
3pm: Liverpool v Fulham
3pm: Man City v West Ham
Thursday 4 May
3pm: Brighton v Man Utd
Matchweek 35
Saturday 6 May
AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea
Spurs v Crystal Palace
Wolves v Aston Villa
12:30pm: Liverpool v Brentford
Sunday 7 May
9am: Man City v Leeds* subject to possible Champions League schedule
11:30am: Newcastle v Arsenal
2pm: West Ham v Man Utd
Monday 8 May
10am: Fulham v Leicester
12:30pm: Brighton v Everton
3pm: Nottingham Forest v Southampton
Saturday 13 May
Arsenal v Brighton
Aston Villa v Spurs
Brentford v West Ham
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
Everton v Man City
Leeds v Newcastle
Leicester v Liverpool
Man Utd v Wolves
Southampton v Fulham
Saturday 20 May
AFC Bournemouth v Man Utd
Brighton v Southampton
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Man City v Chelsea
Newcastle v Leicester
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Spurs v Brentford
West Ham v Leeds
Wolves v Everton
Sunday 28 May
16:00 Arsenal v Wolves
16:00 Aston Villa v Brighton
16:00 Brentford v Man City
16:00 Chelsea v Newcastle
16:00 Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
16:00 Everton v AFC Bournemouth
16:00 Leeds v Spurs
16:00 Leicester v West Ham
16:00 Man Utd v Fulham
16:00 Southampton v Liverpool
