Watching Crystal Palace can be nerve-wracking enough with the Premier League’s weekly surprises, but Carl Lawrence found a way to add even more tension—through Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
As the FPL season neared its end and Lawrence was on track for one of the highest finishes in the country, everything had to go perfectly for him.
“I went to Palace against West Ham,” Lawrence recalls. “I played my free hit and had [Ebere] Eze, [Michael] Olise, and [Daniel] Muñoz in my team—though I wished I had [Jean-Philippe Mateta]. It was an amazing day to watch, and my FPL team was doing really well at that point!”
The 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League game has launched, revealing all of Palace’s FPL prices for the new season.
Each season, millions of players try their luck at Fantasy Premier League. Last year, Lawrence finished in the top 20, making over a decade of weekly decisions worthwhile.
Carl Lawrence with his daughter at Selhurst Park
“It means a lot now,” he says. “It started as fun without serious research, just my own choices. But as I entered more mini-leagues, it became more of a hobby.
“I have two young children, and FPL was a great escape on Saturdays to think about my team, make transfers, and follow the Premier League matches.
“For the last five years, I’ve taken it seriously, thinking about changes throughout the week, doing research, making transfers ideally on Friday nights or Saturday mornings, and experiencing the highs and lows with my FPL team.”
How does he do it? There’s more information than ever, but that also improves the competition—so decision-making is crucial.
“The modern FPL player doesn’t need much research because many opinions or professionals provide answers,” Lawrence explains. “But I make my own decisions and avoid too many risks. Each week, you’re essentially looking at odds and placing bets.
“There’s never one clear decision. No matter what you read or follow, there’s always a decision to make. I try to go with my gut.”
Alexander Isak
How did he achieve such a high finish? A mix of luck, skill, and daring.
“I’ve never finished inside the top 10,000 before, though I’ve been close,” he says. “This is by far my highest finish, something I’m unlikely to replicate.
“When did I feel like I had a real shot? Gameweek 29 was critical, with only four fixtures and eight teams playing. Many players used their free hit—I didn’t.
“That game week, free hits were a disaster. None of the players delivered, and I got a similar score without using my free hit.
“I then played my wildcard the week after because my team had too many Brentford and Sheffield United players. It allowed me to get [Anthony] Gordon and [Alexander] Isak early.
“When Newcastle [United] started performing, I took [Mo] Salah then. It gave me a different path from the average player, moving me into the top 200 or 100.”
Then came a crucial moment from his favorite team.
“Gameweek 34 was critical. I had my free hit to play. Palace played West Ham, and I had Eze, Olise, and Muñoz. I wish I had Mateta. I thought I was unlucky not to get more points. From Gameweek 34, I stayed in the top 100.
“It continued until the final game week.”
Even the best players make mistakes. The key is recovery.
“I benched [Phil] Foden when he scored a hat-trick,” he recalls. “I had five great midfielders—[Bukayo] Saka, [Cole] Palmer, Richarlison, and [Anthony] Gordon over Foden, who got 20 points. That cost me!
“Gameweek 38 was another. Palace played Villa, and I considered Eze or Olise but not JP. I had three decent strikers. I didn’t expect Villa to play their second goalie, Olsen, instead of Martinez. Palace finished brilliantly, so that was a shame.
“That might have gotten me higher than 20th. Being a Palace fan, that would have been an incredible transfer, but I played it safe when I shouldn’t have.”
Despite this, Lawrence finished in the top 20 out of millions. His success required hard work, dedication, and research, which he relished.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
“It’s amazing because you put in hard work throughout the season,” he says. “Every transfer paying off, every weekend filled with pleasure and joy. It’s great to tease friends and share a laugh. Not to boast, but people seek your advice.
“To finish 20th, I’m proud. Some suggest putting it on my CV! I doubt I’ll ever do it again, but it’s on my record. I’ve been playing for 15 years and will likely play for life. It’s amazing to have it.”
Lawrence doubts he’ll finish so high again, but it won’t stop him from planning each summer.
That’s the endless appeal of Fantasy Premier League: each season, we return to create more magic, regardless of the odds.
“Anything inside the top 10,000 is remarkable,” he says. “I’ve always aimed to break into the top 10,000. Next year, for sure, 10,000 or above would be special.”
